On Wednesday, August 28, 2019, the National Energy Board (NEB) became the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). For further information please visit our Implementing the Canadian Energy Regulator Act information page

Market Snapshot: Average electric vehicle range almost doubled in the last six years

Connect/Contact Us Energy Information RSS Feed Please send comments, questions, or suggestions for Market Snapshot topics to snapshots@cer-rec.gc.ca

Release date: 2019-06-25

While electric vehicle (EV) sales in Canada have been increasing, range anxiety remains one barrier to further adoption of EVs. Range anxiety is a consumer concern about how far an EV can be driven on a full charge. EV range has been increasing significantly. Between 2013 and 2019, the average EV model range increased from 219 km to 386 km. Battery technology improvements are the main driver of the EVs’ increasing range. The figure below compares the average EV model’s range for each class of vehicle.

Figure 1: Average vehicle range by class in 2013 and 2019 Footnote 1

Source and Description Source: NRCAN Fuel consumption ratings Description: This figure shows the average electric vehicle range for each vehicle class. It compares the average vehicle class ranges in 2013 and in 2019. Average EV ranges went from: Compact: 122 km to 193 km

Full-size: 353 km to 466 km

Mid-size: 117 km to 393 km

Subcompact: 100 km to 178 km

Two-seater: 109 km to 93 km

Small station wagon: 281 km in 2019

Standard SUV: 441 km in 2019

Thus, as EV range continues to increase, range anxiety will be better addressed and sales of EVs in Canada could continue to increase in the future. That said, EV sales depends on many other factors, including subsidies, the availability of charging infrastructure, the relative cost of electricity and gasoline, purchase price, and customer preferences. Countries with a favorable combination of these variables tend to have a higher share of electric vehicles.

Footnote 1 In 2013 there were 9 available EV models; there are 34 in 2019. Over time, two new EV vehicle classes became commercially available: standard SUVs and small station wagons. These classes didn’t exist in 2013. Return to footnote 1 referrer