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Auto Dealership Ev Charging Solutions Software
Also driving this increase is consumer demand. A 2020 survey from Consumer Reports found that 71% of U.S. drivers would consider buying an EV in the future—yet only 30% reported knowing much about EVs. This gap between interest and understanding presents a huge opportunity to dealerships—but first, dealerships must close that gap themselves.
Change isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. Many dealerships operating today remember how high-speed internet and mobile phones made it easy for customers to compare prices in an instant, disrupting the traditional sales process. Electric vehicles are poised to cause another significant disruption, and dealerships can prepare or else risk losing market share in the modern automotive industry. Future Energy can help, with its integrated EV charging solution.
Future Energy’s solution can illuminate the world of EV for auto dealers and customers alike. We don’t just offer the means to charge EVs using industry-leading ChargePoint chargers and a user-friendly interface. Our comprehensive solution also provides a data-driven EV charging environment built to support remote monitoring of vehicle charge levels, enhanced security, and cutting-edge power management, among other capabilities.
Moreover, our solution delivers a concierge-style service that simplifies access to EV grants and tax credits, coordinates with contractors, and engages with dealership sales staff to provide the training they need to start selling EVs on lots and in showrooms. Below we examine how the Future Energy solution can address common challenges that dealerships face when adopting EV technology and the benefits that the solution offers.
EVs are still so new that many dealerships haven’t yet developed sales strategies around them. Building out the EV infrastructure on a retail lot can provide a physical anchor around which dealership staff can develop a sound sales pitch. A highly visible advanced EV charging environment on the lot is sure to pique the interest of customers browsing outside, opening the door to new sales opportunities—even among those who aren’t initially interested in EVs.
Once the salesperson has the customer’s attention, the salesperson can launch into a routine that highlights every feature of the solution while answering frequently asked questions. This routine may include how to find charging stations, how to browse station reviews, how to reserve a station, and more. Giving customers the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers in real time is a critical part of the sales process that internet research can’t duplicate.One reason that so few people know about electric vehicles is that they have limited exposure to EVs and their chargers. Many dealerships sell EVs, but they lack the infrastructure, education, and means to ensure a smooth sales process and long-term customer satisfaction. By bringing a complete EV charging environment to their lots, dealerships can overcome many of the barriers keeping customers from buying EVs.
Many consumers want to buy electric vehicles but have underlying concerns. Bringing a Future Energy EV charging solution to the retail lot presents a great opportunity not only to tell customers what’s involved in EV charging and ownership—but also to show them. An enterprising dealership can use the presence of a Future Energy EV charging environment on their retail lot to accomplish the following:
According to a 2021 survey from J. D. Power, range remains the most important factor in a consumer’s decision to buy an EV. Many consumers have what’s called “range anxiety,” or fear that the range of an electric vehicle isn’t enough for their needs. However, EV ranges are increasing every year, and a simple glimpse of the local EV charger map on the ChargePoint app will show the customer that they are never far from a ChargePoint charger. In fact, ChargePoint has the largest network of EV chargers in the world, including 120,000 stations (and counting) in North America. By installing commercial EV chargers at your dealerships you are showing consumers you are invested in providing electric vehicles, and being a part of the solution to their biggest fear, range anxiety.
First-time EV buyers have lots of questions about how charging works—everything from how to locate charging stations to how long charging takes. Having an EV charging solution on the lot is a great way to demonstrate the charging process and answer questions related to all manner of scenarios. Increasing the likelihood a potential consumer will purchase an EV from your dealership.
The general public’s lack of information about EVs extends to maintenance. Many customers imagine EVs have unique maintenance needs that are either expensive or require a high degree of specialization. In reality, EV maintenance is much less complicated than that of gas-powered vehicles. For example, the Chevrolet Bolt requires almost no maintenance for the first 150,000 miles. And while this might mean lost service revenue for dealerships, selling EVs presents many more after-sales opportunities, discussed below.
Having an advanced EV charging solution on a dealership lot can bring in people who might not otherwise visit. By providing a safe, easily discoverable place for current EV owners to charge their EVs on their lots, dealerships can increase their brand awareness and create new sales and service opportunities.
After installing a Future Energy EV charging station, a dealership will show up on the ChargePoint app as a viable place for EV owners to charge their vehicles. What’s more, dealerships can boost awareness by giving chargers their own Twitter feeds and offering meal or servicing discounts and other incentives to anyone who stops by to charge their vehicle.
Future Energy also offers auto dealers the opportunity to apply their own branding to both the hardware and software associated with the EV charging environment. Drivers looking to charge their electric vehicles will see the dealership’s brand as they interact with the charging station and digital interface. The branded charging experience also includes security cameras and lighting that can help drivers feel safe as they charge on dealership property.
In general, customized branding on EV hardware and software can make it more likely that drivers will associate the dealership’s brand with a culture of responsibility and long-term commitment to sustainability. Branding can identify a dealership as the kind of place a current EV owner would want to purchase a new EV from or rely on for EV servicing.
As electric vehicles become more popular, consumers will be on the lookout for places to purchase their first EVs. Having sophisticated charging stations visible from the street can spark interest from first-time EV buyers. Also, the more EV chargers there are, the more likely it is that people will buy EVs: dealerships interested in selling EVs can and should do their part to expand their regional EV infrastructure.
According to J. D. Power, 82% of early EV adopters say they “definitely will” consider purchasing another electric vehicle in the future. Offering public EV charging is an excellent way for a dealership to convince current EV owners to purchase their next vehicle there. And though EVs require much less service and maintenance than combustion-engine vehicles, that dealership could still gain service opportunities by attracting EV owners.