Canadians remain skeptical of electric cars’ reliability despite years of federal promotions including $5,000 rebates, says in-house Department of Natural Resources research. “Uncertainty persists around issues such as charging capacity, maintenance costs and resale value,” wrote federal pollsters.
YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE NOTICED IT, but your vehicle uses more energy in winter than in summer. A gasoline-powered car or truck consumes 15 percent more fuel at -7 C than at 25 C, according to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), quoting data from the U.S. Department of Energy. In winter, it takes longer for an engine to warm to its most efficient operating temperature. As well, energy is consumed to heat the cabin. There is also more energy-sapping friction in the powertrain.
An electric vehicle (EV) also uses more energy when it’s cold outside. While NRCan publishes official EV range figures, reliable independent information on how winter conditions affect EV performance is scarce. In a 2024 CAA poll of Canadian EV owners, more than 65 percent reported lower battery range in extreme cold weather. Given our often-challenging winter climate, it’s no surprise that more than two-thirds of Canadians polled by CAA said that range drop during winter is a major deterrent to buying an EV.
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