As surging energy prices leave motorists feeling the pinch at the gas pumps, Canadians are turning to electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, data from Statistics Canada shows.
In March, 176,500 new motor vehicles were sold in Canada, a decline of 6.6 per cent compared to the same month in 2025. In terms of dollar value, sales were down 3.6 per cent last month compared to a year earlier.
However, one segment of the market that has grown year-over-year is zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), a category which includes both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
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Canadians bought 21,574 new zero-emission vehicles, which was an increase of 74.7 per cent compared to March 2025, Statistics Canada said.
In March 2025, ZEV sales made up just 6.6 per cent of all new vehicle sales. Last month, that jumped to 12.2 per cent of total new motor vehicles sold.
According to rate comparison website Rates.ca, the number of Canadians searching for a quote on car insurance for an EV was 40 per cent higher last month compared to March of last year.
According to pre-owned car platform Clutch, searches on their platform for electric vehicles have grown by more than half (54 per cent) since the start of the war.
“We’re seeing the relationship to rising gas prices and interest in EVs clearly in the data,” said Clutch CEO Dan Park.
The pressure from the oil market is driving Canadians to “actively explore” EVs as an option, Park said.
Gas prices remain elevated across the country with no end in sight to the war in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway used for the transport of oil to markets, being choked.
On Thursday morning, CAA said the average gas price in Canada was $1.89 per litre, more than half a dollar higher than this time last year, and just shy of the year-long high of $1.90 seen last week.
Taking the GTO for a ride tonight. Don’t care how much gas cost and the wife loves it in the back seat.
@Anon. Power so much cheaper in the USA. Lol
YankMyDoodle can phuck off. Troll.
EVs are waaaayyyy cheaper.
@X. Don’t drive an EV or into the Hershey highway either.
@ Rick Jones – you know a lot of homosexuals? What does that say about you?
Honda shelved the EV project in Ontario. Hopefully Trump can bring more Honda Canada jobs to the USA as he promised.
Canadians loved to be gouged for the sake of “climate change” and lining the pockets of Liberal cronies. Power so much cheaper down in the southern USA.
Apparently Justin Tru-DOHs son Xav was a total flop performing at the Ottawa Black Jacks game. Sounds like cringe and being a total cheeseball runs in the family. So hilarious.
I heard Tru-DoHs sons Xav was a total flop performing during halftime show at Ottawa Black Jack. Total cringe like his dad.
Women don’t find EVs sexy. They like Muscle Cars, Motorcycles, and high HP boats. None of that comes from a battery boys.
If the EV Industry is SOOO Amazing as some below say, why was Honda and other basically pulled out of the market?
I heard that most men that drive EVs and brag about them. 90% of them are homosexuals.
Errors: they are not zero emissions vehicles, they are battery powered vehicles. The energy they consume is usually from fossil fuels.
2. Sales should be higher, as Carney and the Liberals are giving a 10% or higher rebate with our tax dollars.
3. People are looking at Battery powered vehicles, That accounts for the insurance price quotes. But they are not buying them.
4. Nobody wants used Battery powered vehicles. Yes they look for them, but they do not want to pay very much.
Trying to spin it that EV sales are up… not really.
Duke: do the math. You are not doing a full charge. How long do you think you can do that for free. Tesla did that to open up the market. Then they started charging. In some places it is more than gas to fully charge.
EV critics NEVER post how much big oil gauged them for to fill up this week!
EV and hydrids are almost FREE BY COMPARISOn and big oil is investing in wind tech.
Duh…..
I am sure Hybrids or Plug In Hybids are up but pure EV sales are tanking and the market is collapsing hence the new today on Honda, VW earlier, and Stellantis.
Bought a new gas Lexus IS and I’m loving it!
Honda has put the brakes on on EV plant in Canada. We can thank Trudeau and Ford for losing billions on a green wet dream. I suspect a hydrogen car might take off but right now ICE vehicle is the most practical choice.
Charged my EV yesterday at $15. And I know where I can get free fast charge if I shop at their grocery store. Never going back to gas, even before the Iran crisis Suck it up right-nuts! Good times!
EV sales are up because those and hybrids seem to be the only vehicles available on the lots. Not because of customer demand. First it was the EV mandate from Trudeau, now it’s the emissions standards through Carney. It’s not consumers wanting EV’s. It’s government mandated change.
Despite high gas prices there is sustained strong demand for ICE Pick Up Trucks
What are the actual number of EVs being sold. Percentage means nothing because 75% of 1000 is totally different to 75% of 100. Numbers can be manipulated to say whatever you want them to say. How have car sales dropped in general because people cannot afford to buy any type of car because people are hurting because of the economy.