Canadians’ interest in electric vehicles (EVs) surged after oil prices spiked and the federal government reinstated a consumer rebate worth thousands of dollars per vehicle, according to a new survey. Among non-EV owners in Canada, 49 per cent now say they would consider buying one, according to an annual survey of more than 1,700 Canadians that was released this week by AutoTrader.ca, the online marketplace owned by Trader Corp. That’s up from 42 per cent in 2025 and is the first increase in “EV purchase intent” since 2022. “We have been seeing a decline in interest in EVs since 2022 in our data, and now there is an uptick and there are multiple reasons behind this,” Baris Akyurek, vice-president at Autotrader.ca, said. “One is gas prices and the other is the federal consumer incentives.” The average price of gas in Canada currently is at $1.747 per litre, up 45 per cent from $1.20 in late December, according to the Canadian Automobile Association. The biggest increase occurred in March after the United States attacked Iran, leading to widespread disruptions in the global oil supply chains. Searches for EVs on the Autotrader.ca site rose 33 per cent in March after gas prices spiked, but Akyurek said there was a noticeable difference for new and used EVs. Searches for new EVs significantly increased in February after the federal government announced its Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP), which cuts as much as $5,000 off the cost of an EV. The program has about $2.3 billion in funding and will last for up to five years, with the incentive amount available for a new purchase declining each year. Autotrader.ca said sales of new EVs grew immediately after the incentive program launched on Feb. 16, and hit 38 per cent year-over-year growth by the final week of March, while they were flat before then. During the same period, sales of used EVs increased by 13.7 per cent, but Akyurek said searches for used EVs significantly increased after the U.S. war with Iran started. As a result, Autotrader.ca said in its survey that its analysts believe these trends indicate that the EVAP announcement and rising fuel prices created “ tangible sales growth ” for both new and used EVs. “Even if the gas prices go back to pre-war levels , we don’t think the EV interest will disappear, all else being equal,” Akyurek said, adding that federal government programs to invest in charging infrastructure are also addressing consumer concerns. EV price is another factor consumers consistently cite as a deterrent to buying a vehicle, with 54 per cent of prospective EV buyers saying that they could not afford to buy an EV without government rebates. The average battery EV (BEV) cost $64,815 in March, a 10.7 per cent year-over-year decline, according to the survey. Akyruek said the average BEV in Canada cost nearly $90,000 just a few years ago. The potential introduction of affordable Chinese EVs could change the affordability of EVs. The survey said 53 per cent of would-be buyers would consider purchasing a Chinese brand. Akyurek said Tesla Inc. ranked first when respondents were asked about which brands come to mind when they think of EVs, while China’s BYD Co. Ltd. ranked eighth, which he described as remarkable given it is not yet selling any vehicles in Canada. The federal government in January announced it would allow China to export 49,000 EVs into Canada at a duty rate of 6.1 per cent. Prime Minister Mark Carney also said he expects half of these EVs will cost under $35,000 within five years. But the federal government has released few details on who will decide which brands are admitted under the quota. Auto-sector professionals say it typically takes 18 months for an automaker to certify a vehicle under Canadian road safety standards. A few Chinese-made EVs, including from Tesla, Volvo Car AB and Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC, are already allowed in Canada, but none are priced at $35,000. • Email: gfriedman@postmedia.com Why Chinese 'knock-down' car kits could spell catastrophe for Canadian automakersTerence Corcoran: Any Canadian auto trade deal will be flawed