How can your car dealership get ready for the move to electric vehicles?

The UK Government is supporting the roll-out of electric vehicles. 

This roll-out includes charging infrastructure, zero emission vehicle supply chain networks and alternative sustainable transport methods to make sure transport greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduce as stated in the Net Zero Strategy. 

From 2035 no new conventional petrol or diesel cars will be sold in the UK, and all new cars will be zero emission and will support the UK’s Net Zero strategy. UK transport accounted for 24% of net greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, with the majority from road transport.  

As we approach 2030, the pressure to move to EVs is taking many businesses by surprise. Did you know that 13.9% of new cars sold in the UK so far in 2022 (July 2022) are fully battery electric vehicles (BEV), and another 6.3% plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV)? So already more than 1 in 5 cars sold are electrified! 

Dealerships and garages that service and repair vehicles need to start taking steps now to make sure they survive the move to EVs and have success in the market.

Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) accreditation is a great start for small car dealerships to make the switch to selling electric vehicles.  

EVA is an independent, government-backed scheme that shows customers that your car dealership or repair garage is an expert in EVs. It’s a set of standards for retail and aftersales that tells customers what they should expect from an EV dealer.  

This includes having the knowledge to give customers advice about which vehicles would or wouldn’t suit them and the expertise to service and maintain EVs. 

By becoming Electric Vehicle Approved, you’re giving consumers who might feel uncertain about buying an EV the confidence and reassurance they need.  

To become EVA approved, car dealers should meet a certain set of requirements including general standards, sales standards, aftersales standards, marketing and branding standards, and complaint standards evaluations.  

Below is a brief outline of requirements: 

• Buy-in to EVs from senior management. 
• Appropriate training, both for sales staff and for the technicians that service, maintain and repair vehicles.  
• Good advice and guidance for customers considering buying EVs. 
• Availability of appropriate EV information and advertising. 
• Making sure that EVs are handed over to customers responsibly. 

• Fill in an application form (if you need one, please email eva@rmif.co.uk) 
• If successful, the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) will arrange for an audit of your site. 
• Energy Saving Trust then conducts the auditing process as follows:  
  – pre-audit call to check necessary evidence is in place 
  – virtual audit via Teams or Zoom. 
• If an audit report is successful, the NFDA will grant the dealership site EVA status. It will send over a digital pack to display the EVA online and at your site. 

Energy Saving Trust and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) endorse the EVA, which allows your dealerships to be recognised as an EV approved service to consumers and other businesses.  

As the EV market grows and demand increases, showing that your car dealership is a knowledgeable and reputable retailer will help your customers understand EVs and make informed choices.  

If you’re not sure how to get your business ready for the transition to EVs, or if you’d like more information about EV training courses, EVA or anything EV-related, take a look at our electric vehicle advice page or contact eva@rmif.co.uk.