One car dealership making it easier to buy & service electric vehicles

For many drivers, buying an electric vehicle (EV) can feel like a big transition. The familiarity of an internal combustion engine (ICE) car and gas stations is replaced by the relative unknown of a battery-powered car and a network of charging stations.

Some Vermont car dealerships are helping prospective EV owners become more familiar with how EVs work, and especially how they charge. Dealerships like Nucar Automall of St. Albans partnered with Efficiency Vermont to invest in EV-specific staff trainings, service tools, and on-site charging stations. Those efforts are helping customers know what to expect—and get excited about making the EV transition.

Nucar Automall of St. Albans sells conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and EVs. Mike Benoit, a service advisor at the dealership, works with technicians who service EVs. Thanks to training courses offered by Ford, the staff is specially trained in EV mechanics and maintenance. But Benoit says the EVs that come into Nucar's service shop require a lot less maintenance than gas-powered vehicles. "In my opinion, the EVs are some of the most reliable cars we have here at the dealership," he says. With fewer moving parts, there's less that can go wrong. No spark plugs, no oil changes. For the customer, that translates to a lot less money being spent on repairs.

Nucar Automall of St. Albans is investing in the training and equipment needed to sell and service EVs because the dealership knows the market is moving in that direction long-term. In just two years, the number of EVs on the road in Vermont has doubled. That includes plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles. "It's only getting easier for Vermonters to drive electric," says Michele Boomhower of the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

In St. Albans, Nucar installed 15 publicly available Level 2 and Level 3 chargers at its Franklin Park facility. "Having these EV chargers on the lot makes it easier for customers to see just how simple charging an EV can be," says Ryan Ortiz, the dealership’s general manager. When considering purchasing or leasing an EV, customers can learn how to use the chargers and get more comfortable with the tangible differences between EVs and ICE vehicles.

Nucar Automall of St. Albans partnered with Efficiency Vermont to prepare the dealership for selling and servicing EVs. Efficiency Vermont offers incentives for EV dealers to help make the transition more affordable.  New and used dealerships can get up to $25,000 to support the purchase of EV equipment, tools, and staff certifications. Since 2021, the program has also provided more than $1 million in sales incentives, which are split between the dealership and the salesperson.

"Our goal is to help car dealerships make the EV transition in a smooth and affordable way," says Nicole Bourassa, program manager for Efficiency Vermont. "At the end of the day, Vermonters shopping for EVs can feel confident that dealerships understand their needs and questions, and that they're getting the highest quality service afterwards." Currently, about one-third of Vermont car dealerships participate in Efficiency Vermont's EV dealer program. That includes used car dealerships, which are becoming more popular as more used EVs come onto the market.