Creating “EV champions” in dealerships could maximise the growing demand for electric vehicles, according to Gain Solutions.

The company has urged that dealerships invest in specialist EV training for their sales and technical teams, adding that while training a whole team could be difficult, an appointed EV champion is a “good stop gap”.

Gain Solutions’ managing director, Marcus Blakemore (pictured), said: “With the demand for electric vehicles increasing, it is crucial that dealers are trained, educated and geared up for the switch in vehicle sales that lies ahead. Just as important, is to ensure that customers do not know more than the dealership staff.”

Currently one-in-three UK dealerships don’t have an EV trained technician in their workshops.

However, Gain is rolling out a specialist EV training programme to dealerships to ensure that when a customer enters the sales room they have a clear, structured plan with all the necessary knowledge to secure that EV sale.

“Initially, one EV champion in a dealership is likely to be much more effective and successful in the selling of EV’s than an entire sales team who just know the basics. It will buy time to methodically train the rest of the team,” said Blakemore.

“We have built up extensive experience of handling electric vehicles, so can give expert guidance and training to dealers to ensure they can cope when the influx of interest in electric vehicles arrives.

"Dealers must make sure they are aware and ready for the significant changes that will come with selling EV’s instead of combustion engine cars.

“We want to ensure dealerships are as prepared and knowledgeable as possible for the time when more and more people come to them to buy an electric vehicle.”