Environmental Concern and Electric Vehicle Adoption Intentions in Canada: A Comparison of Car Owners and Non-Car Owners

Environmental concern is widely recognized as a driver of electric vehicle (EV) adoption, yet less is known about whether this relationship differs between current car owners and non-car owners. This distinction matters because car owners evaluate EVs as potential replacement vehicles, while non-car owners may express a more aspira-tional future preference. Using a cross-sectional online survey of 328 adults in Canada, this study examines whether environmental concern predicts EV adoption intentions across ownership groups. Car owners were asked about the likelihood of choosing a plug-in electric vehicle if purchasing another vehicle, whereas non-car owners were asked whether they would prefer to drive an EV instead of a conventional car. Ordered logistic regression results show that environmental concern significantly predicts EV purchase likelihood among car owners (beta = 0.649, p < 0.001; OR approximately 1.91) and EV preference among non-car owners (beta = 0.440, p = 0.018; OR approximately 1.55). Personal environmental responsibility is positive but not statistically significant in the main car-owner model. The findings support Value-Belief-Norm theory while indicating that environmental concern alone may not overcome practical ownership barriers. EV adoption strategies should therefore connect environmental benefits with affordability, charging infrastructure, and everyday usability.