According to the IEA Global EV Outlook 2022, sales of electric vehicles doubled in 2021 from 2020, setting a new record of 6.6 million. Mainstream manufacturers in the automotive and trucking industries are offering more models and electric solutions, providing greater consumer choice and opportunity to consider fossil fuel alternatives.
Even with this tremendous growth, many car and truck dealerships do not have charging infrastructure and are slow to adapt to market trends around EVs. There are many reasons for this, including availability of capital, necessary infrastructure, sales expertise, operational expenses, and more.
When planned correctly to meet the needs and goals of a unique dealership, strategic EV infrastructure implementation can bring value in myriad ways.
Ramping up EV presence on site will set dealerships ahead of the competition as the EV revolution continues to grow. Chargers don’t need to disrupt energy use – coordinated onsite renewables and distributed energy assets can balance demand and increase operational efficiency. On-site chargers add value for customers and staff, and with wider availability of chargers, dealerships will be able to attract new customers and retain these relationships by offering readily available charging sites.
Many geographies have existing or future mandates that currently or will soon require EV integration and a reduction in gas-powered vehicles. By implementing charging infrastructure now, dealerships can stay ahead of the curve, take advantage of early-mover incentives, and meet regulatory requirements and any internal electrification targets. This early evolution will remove the need to scramble in the future as EVs continue to become more mainstream and demand from buyers increases.
Many dealerships aren’t considering EV infrastructure because they are concerned with the complexity of managing the systems and what the impact may be on current operations. By selecting the right partner to implement these technologies, dealerships can be as hands-off as they would like. There are incredible incentives in many regions, models that have the project partner responsible for operations and maintenance of the chargers and any corresponding infrastructure, and even project structures with no upfront cost to the customer. The key is exploring all options and selecting the solution that is best for each unique dealership.
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Considering electric vehicle chargers for your property, your employees or customers as part of an energy and sustainability initiative or to service your own electrified fleet? There is tremendous momentum in the EV industry, and GridMarket is your ideal EV transition partner. We have experience with all types of EV charger analysis and implementation. Our network of top-tier solution providers with targeted electrification and mobility transformation expertise are standing by to provide best-in-class proposals through our secure competitive bidding platform.
Here at GridMarket, we see automotive dealerships as incredible opportunities for electrification ecosystems that pair strategically placed chargers with distributed energy assets. These onsite hybrid systems mean you can prepare for the future of electrification, meet any existing for forthcoming mandates and achieve your personal sustainability goals, all while saving money on energy, and improving operational efficiency.
Contact us today for your free assessment and read more about our work at dealerships here.