Electric Vehicle Sales Continue Rising in Q1 2017

Fleet of electric vehicles

 June 5, 2017

Electric vehicle sales continued their upward trend through the first quarter of 2017, reports Fleet Carma’s Eric Schmidt.

In January 2017 over 30,000 EVs (battery EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs combined) were on the road in Canada. By the end of March 2017, the total was 32,482 EVs.

The first two months of 2017 were predictably slow for new EV sales in Canada. To the delight of EV dealers everywhere that changed by the end of March. A resurgence in March saw an all-time high for battery EVs (BEVs) at 873 new car sales, an increase of 381 cars over March 2016. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) also saw a notable increase over the previous year in March of 166 vehicles. Together, the two categories set a new monthly record for plug-in electric vehicle sales of 1474 total vehicles.

Three provinces, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia, continue to dominate EV sales across Canada, totalling 95.8% of sales nationwide. Quebec continues to lead all provincial sales with over 14,000 total EV sales. Electric vehicle sales in Ontario set a new record by surpassing the 10,000 total EVs milestone. British Columbia, third for provincial EV sales, maintained a first place position for EVs by hitting 4% of all passenger car sales in March of 2017.

If current trends continue, both British Columbia and Quebec EV sales will surpass 5% of the total passenger vehicle market.

Canadian plug-in electric vehicle registrations for Q1 2017

Despite a seasonally slow start to the first quarter of the year, March will go down as a banner month on multiple accounts including new vehicle registrations. An all-time high of 1,474 new PEV registrations in March this helped the Q1 total rise over 68% from Q1 in 2016.

Unlike previous years, the strong results in early 2017 show a visible quickening in the electric vehicle market. If trends continue, it is likely to see monthly registrations of over 1,500 PEVs by the seasonal peak in September of 2017.

This article was first published in EV Industry. Read the full article: http://www.fleetcarma.com/electric-vehicle-sales-canada-q1-2017.

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • The Non-Residential Sector Declines in All Three Components Despite Sustained Industrial Permit Level

    The Non-Residential Sector Declines in All Three Components Despite Sustained Industrial Permit Level

    November 4, 2024 The total value of building permits in Canada decreased by $858.1 million (-7.0%) to $11.5 billion in August, following a strong July during which construction intentions rose sharply (+20.8%). The residential and non-residential sectors contributed to the decrease in August. On a constant dollar basis (2017=100), the total value of building permits decreased 7.6% in… Read More…

  • A Slight Decrease in Residential Building Construction for August

    A Slight Decrease in Residential Building Construction for August

    November 4, 2024 Investment in building construction edged up 0.2% to $21.0 billion in August, after a 1.6% decrease in July. The residential sector edged down (-0.1%) to $14.6 billion, while the non-residential sector was up 1.0% to $6.4 billion. Year over year, investment in building construction grew 7.2% in August. On a constant dollar basis (2017=100), investment in building construction was… Read More…

  • When a Familiar Door Closes

    When a Familiar Door Closes

    November 4, 2024 By Keith Sones, seasoned utility industry executive Most of the articles I’ve written have been based on personal experiences, many of them occurring decades ago, which eventually translate into helpful life lessons. The years allow the events to marinate in a savoury stew of time and reflection, clarity never coming immediately, or even… Read More…

  • Regulatory Changes to Manitoba Apprenticeship and Certification System

    Regulatory Changes to Manitoba Apprenticeship and Certification System

    November 4, 2024 Effective October 30, 2024, Manitoba’s apprenticeship and certification system will undergo regulatory changes. These changes aim to enhance responsiveness to industry needs, align with Red Seal standards, and improve the quality of apprentice training and safety. Go HERE for more information Source Read More…


Changing Scene