Kia Canada commissioned Canadian pollster Angus Reid to conduct a survey to gauge transportation habits, EV knowledge and misconceptions.
The findings show that since the pandemic began, 79% of Canadians say they feel safest travelling by car and 38% are more conscious of their life choices and impact on the environment. In fact, over half the population say they intend to or would consider purchasing an EV for their next vehicle to reduce their carbon footprint.
Collective Green Consciousness
Survey findings reveal that 82% of Canadians have never driven an EV before. To understand why this could be, Kia identified common misconceptions that act as EV barriers to help arm Canadians with the facts they need.
Tune-Up on EV Facts and Common Misconceptions
The national survey revealed that when it comes to EVs, Canadians were hesitant to make the switch due to four key concerns: charging station availability, the time it takes to charge, vehicle range and the higher cost of EVs.
Kia Canada understands that EV education comes with experience and is determined to clear up Canadians’ myths and misconceptions about going the distance safely, economically and environmentally in a clean-driving EV.
Myth #1: EV Charging Station Availability
Here’s where the myth about recharging comes in: 47% of Canadians say they would not consider purchasing an EV and among this group 50% believe finding a charging station is a nuisance, and 30% don’t think they can install a charging port in their home.
And here’s where fact versus fiction comes into play: ChargeHub says there are more than 14,000 public charging ports (Level 2 and 3) available across Canada. In fact, there has been a 50% year-over-year growth in the amount of new charging stations available across the country increasing accessibility for EV drivers.
EV charging is done at home 71% of the time. Kia supplies a Level 1 charger with the purchase of its Soul EV, Niro EV and Niro PHEV models.
Myth #2: EV Charge Time
Sixty-eight per cent of Canadian car owners say they drive less than 50kms on an average day, making EVs a realistic and sustainable option to support their daily lifestyles.
In the case that drivers need to recharge while en route, all Kia EVs can be recharged to 80% in under an hour using a Level 3 charging station (100kWh).
Myth #3: EV Range
- 66% of car owners say they use their vehicles for road trips near and far;
- 47% of Canadians are interested in travelling in their home provinces
- 33% are interested in travelling within Canada in the next six months
Longer trips see many Canadians worried about EV range, and don’t think they can go the distance:
- 84% of Canadians do not know that many EVs can travel more than 350km in a single charge
For Canadians who want to go EV, but crave even more range, Kia’s Niro hybrid (HEV) or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models offer the environmental benefits, with a gas engine option for extended trips outside of the city.
Myth #4: EV Cost
Every vehicle purchase comes with its own financial commitment. The survey reports that among the 47% of Canadians who would not consider an EV, 59% believe that EVs are too expensive and costly to maintain.
The switch from a gasoline-powered vehicle to an EV is not as costly as one would think and can help Canadians save money throughout the year factoring in the low cost of electricity compared to gas and fewer maintenance costs. In addition to this benefit, the Government of Canada offers federal sales incentives of up to $5,000 to Canadians who purchase zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) and provinces, such as British Columbia and Quebec offer up to an additional $3,000 and $8,000 respectively.
For more informations about Kia’s EV options, visit kia.ca/greencars.