Survey says Canadians don't want electric cars unless...

Three out of four Canadians don't want an electric vehicle (EV) unless it can be recharged in less than four hours and boasts a range of at least 298 miles, according to a survey conducted by Deloitte. Apparently, the fact that more than 80 percent of Canadians drive less than 50 miles a day had no impact on the respondents' range expectations. On top of that, two-thirds of those surveyed said they would not pay a penny more for a battery-powered car than a comparable gasoline-fueled vehicle. So, clearly, most Canadians won't be happy with today's plug-in offerings.

However, there's something that could convince the majority of Canadians to consider giving electrified autos a shot: astronomical gas prices. Deloitte's survey found that most Canadians will consider buying an EV if gas prices reach $2.10 per liter ($8.12 U.S. per gallon at the current exchange rate), or nearly twice the price that drivers currently pay to fuel up in Canada. So, unless gas prices soar to an exorbitant level, the survey says that Canada probably won't lead the world in plug-in vehicle ownership anytime soon. Hat tip to Steve!

[Source: The Globe and Mail]