Detroit, MI - January 25th, 2023 | Sales of electric vehicles accelerated in 2022 in the United States, which translates into a gradually increasing market share. According to a new report by The Wall Street Journal, automakers sold over 800,000 fully electric vehicles in the U.S. last year.

As for the future, nearly all OEMs are undergoing significant transitions from ICE and hybrid vehicles to battery-electric vehicles. At the end of 2020, Hyundai Motor Group unveiled its plan to increase its EV portfolio from the current eight models to 23 models by 2025. Later in 2021, Volkswagen Group announced its NEW AUTO strategy, a long-term plan that projected electric vehicles to make up 50% of the group’s total sales by 2030 and 100% by 2040. Following that, other OEMs such as GM, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Stellantis, and Volvo all shared ambitious plans to increase their EV portfolio, aiming for as many early adopters as possible in this booming market.

All this comes due to high customer demand. According to Consumer Reports, 71% of U.S. drivers consider buying EVs at some point in the near future. Despite the desire to buy an EV, the survey pointed to the availability of charging stations as what might be holding the customers back from buying one. Other reasons include a need for more EV knowledge and purchase prices. 

With the upcoming demand, some work must be done to prepare the dealerships for selling and servicing LEVs. These advanced propulsion technologies will require new and additional equipment, safety-related tools, personal protection equipment, processes, and space allocation within your dealership sites to protect dealerships, employees, customers, and infrastructure.

As the electric vehicle market grows massively, EV infrastructure is required to be able to sell EVs at your dealership. Designing and implementing this infrastructure sounds like a complex process, but it can be eased by using the Vehya platform. Those variables show an excellent opportunity for dealerships that want to get ready to support and lead the technology transition from ICE-dominant product lines to LEV-dominant product lines.

As a turnkey solution, Vehya can help dealerships to answer questions about EV infrastructure with just a few simple steps, removing the complexities of EV readiness needs. The platform can complete a comprehensive assessment to ensure that it includes product options, a quote for installation by an experienced electrician, and service-level agreements. Summing up, Vehya is a complete end-to-end solution for your EV needs.

Dealers and applicable dealership personnel will be required to complete certain LEV-specific training offered by OEMs related to sales, after-sales, and technical business areas. Also, dealers will be required to implement and perform specific safety processes related to LEVs, including handling of batteries, protocols for damaged batteries, customer service processes, and new LEV delivery processes. 

Furthermore, each dealership will be required to install and maintain the appropriate charging hardware and software. Many questions will arise regarding EV charging level, type, or installation location in this case. Or if the property needs a power upgrade or installation permission. Those are some examples of questions that Vehya can quickly answer during the assessment and electrical project draft.

As an experienced partner, Vehya guarantees certified electricians that will provide a detailed quote, the scope of work, and an estimated completion date in your Vehya portal. From there, Vehya works with certified electricians, utility companies, inspectors, and any other entity to ensure a smooth, safe installation and activation of your equipment. You then also receive updates along the way about the progress through your Vehya portal and account manager.

To illustrate, several types and styles of EV chargers provide different levels of power to different kinds of electric cars. Understanding the different types of chargers, the associated charge rates, and their general use is essential information to optimize your EVSE experience. Among the three levels, most OEMs request dealerships to install both level 2 and level 3 to support the operation in the upcoming years. If you are unfamiliar with those terms, check our previous post about EV chargers on our blog. 

Benefits of installing EVSEs at your dealership

There are many things to learn about the EV market regarding dealerships. Dealers selling electric vehicles need to have this information to provide to their customers and show how to use it, so they can feel safe when closing the deal. Furthermore, the EV infrastructure can also be an opportunity to build a second stream of income that requires little to no work from your employees.

Providing a charging station brings benefits for both dealerships and their customers. As mentioned, two of the biggest concerns about buying EVs for customers are the availability of charging stations and the need for more knowledge about EVs. Electric mobility is a relatively new technology, and customers often need to be educated about battery life and the benefits of their EVs.

By providing an EV charging station, your dealership can provide the information necessary for your customer to acquire the vehicle, making them aware of the benefits and increasing long-term sales. It’s a great way to make conversation and show more value to your business by providing additional services.

The market is already changing; each year, more and more customers are looking to shift to EVs. Planning and offering a charging station ensures your business is ready to adapt and evolve. Additionally, a dealership with a charging station can create a way to expand its revenues, starting a conversation with customers about future EV purchases or selling add-on products. 

In addition to these benefits from the relationship with the customer, the dealership can also benefit from financial incentives. The U.S. Federal Tax Credit pays dealerships up to 30% of the cost of purchasing and installing an EV charging station.

Wrapping up, EVSEs are necessary for EV customers, and needing more facilities is one of the biggest reasons they feel reluctant to purchase EVs. Now is when your dealership can get ahead of the competition and provide what they need.

Providing an EV charging infrastructure will benefit both dealerships and customers. Also, it will allow you to become certified by your OEM,  typically offering a better opportunity for EV inventory. As EV awareness increases, we encourage dealerships to adapt to the change and provide the inventory, infrastructure, and knowledge for their team and consumers. 

At Vehya's portal, you answer a quick questionnaire, assess costs according to your needs, receive support from your account manager, and get your installation completed by one of our certified electrical professionals.

Login at www.vehya.com and get started now.