10.8 percent of newly registered vehicles in Canada in 2023 were so-called zero-emission models. This is the first time the 10-percent mark has been passed, according to Statistics Canada figures.
A “zero-emission” vehicle is a product that is all-electric, or benefits from a plug-in hybrid configuration. In an encouraging sign, sales growth picked up speed in the last quarter of the year, with 12 percent of new-car buyers opting for a ZEV. Not surprisingly, almost half of all electric vehicles were registered in either Quebec or British Columbia. In Quebec, 77,083 vehicles were registered, while in British Columbia the total was 42,611. Perhaps surprisingly, Ontario, where only the federal EV discount applies, recorded 49,803 transactions.
While the absolute number of electric vehicle sales is higher in Quebec than in British Columbia, it is in the latter that the percentage of EV sales was highest in 2023, at 20.2 percent. This compares to 18.6 percent in Quebec and 7.4 percent in Ontario. Early this year, the percentage in Quebec also rose above the 20-percent mark. Want more numbers? All-electric vehicles accounted for 75.6 percent of sales of zero-emission models, compared with 24.4 percent for plug-in hybrids.
It's safe to assume that the greater availability of plug-in hybrids in recent years has played a role in this statistic. Growth is expected to continue in 2024, but the question will be whether the pace of that growth accelerates or starts to flatten a little.