Pollution Probe data reveals 86 per cent of Canadians would buy another EV with 74 per cent saying access to public charging a significant influence on their decision

Public charging plays a significant role in future electric vehicles purchasing decisions for Canadians, finds a national survey published by non-profit organization, Pollution Probe, today.

The annual Electric Vehicle Charging Experience Survey, conducted in partnership with the Mobility Futures Lab and with funding from NRCan’s Zero Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative (ZEVAI), offers fresh insights into charging experiences of Canadian EV owners.

The survey results are grouped into five categories: charging behaviour, network coverage satisfaction, network service satisfaction and network payment systems.

New this year is a category examining how public charging influences EV owners’ future purchasing decisions.

“Canadian EV owners appear to be overwhelmingly satisfied, with 86 per cent stating they would definitely purchase another EV in the future,” reads the survey report.

Public charging plays a crucial role in future EV purchases, but its importance varies by owner type. For example, 74 per cent of drivers without home charging consider public charging access a key factor in their decision to purchase a future EV. Meanwhile, 64 per cent of home-charging EV owners see it as an important factor.

Survey highlights

More than 2,000 EV owners across Canada participated in the survey, providing insights into their charging experiences and the state of public charging infrastructure.

Responses came from 10 provinces, with the highest representation from Quebec (44 per cent), Ontario (25 per cent) and British Columbia (14 per cent).

The survey found that charging behaviour varies significantly based on home charging access.

EV owners with home charging use public DC fast chargers occasionally for long trips, while those without home charging rely daily on Level 2 public chargers.

Quebec leads in public charging satisfaction.

Forty-six per cent of EV owners in that province find station availability adequate, compared to 28 per cent in Ontario and 21 per cent in B.C.

Satisfaction dips significantly in the remaining provinces, with seven per cent of respondents saying there are enough public chargers. Many EV owners (44 per cent) report having to take indirect routes to find charging, while 32 per cent say they do not.

When it comes to payment and costs, the survey finds 71 per cent of EV owners are subscribed to at least two public networks. About 47 per cent find public charging fees reasonable, while 60 per cent are frustrated by inconsistent pricing. Additionally, 42 per cent are willing to pay more for faster charging, though opinions vary based on location, income and home charging access.

Survey recommendations

To improve the EV charging experience and support future adoption, the report suggests more DC fast chargers be deployed along major travel routes, while urban areas need increased Level 2 charging options for residents without home charging.

“Incentivize EV owners in MURBs to install home charging infrastructure, and introduce retrofit programs to subsidize installations, particularly for Level 2 chargers,” suggests the report.

Further recommendation includes standardizing payment methods across networks and encourage the adoption of plug and charge systems. Regular maintenance and real-time monitoring should also be implemented to improve reliability.

A shift to energy-based billing (kWh) by charging networks in jurisdictions participating in kWh billing would create fairer pricing, especially for slower-charging vehicles. (Currently only Ontario and B.C use energy-based billing (kWh) for public EV charging.)

The report calls for targeted awareness campaigns to address knowledge gaps about EV charging, payment methods and costs. It also suggests educational campaigns designed in collaboration with automakers, governments and local stakeholders to ensure clear, consistent information and messaging.