Even as electric vehicle options expand and customer interest grows, the dealership floor remains one of the biggest bottlenecks in the adoption journey. Many customers still look to dealers for trusted information, guidance, and confidence in their EV purchase — and many dealers still need support to feel prepared. Utilities have a unique opportunity to bridge that gap.
When you bring auto dealers into your EV engagement strategy, you strengthen community trust, support local businesses, and deliver better customer experiences. It starts with the fundamentals: knowing who your dealers are across your service area, understanding what EV inventory is available, and equipping them with tools that save time and help them close sales. It also means anticipating their future energy needs as they prepare for on-site charging.
The data makes the case clear. A 2024 Plug-In America / EPRI EV driver survey found that nearly 60 percent of EV buyers purchased from a dealership — yet just 26 percent felt their salesperson had a strong understanding of EVs. That gap in expertise can undercut customer confidence and slow adoption. At the same time, research from Qmerit and other leading consultancies confirms that programs including dealer training, inventory visibility, and direct collaboration are proven strategies to increase adoption and reduce friction at the point of purchase.
At REACH Strategies, we’ve been helping utilities “crack the code” on dealer engagement for more than a decade. From co-branded outreach materials to turnkey toolkits and dealer onboarding campaigns, we design solutions that foster strong utility–dealer relationships and accelerate EV adoption. Your local dealers are essential partners in this transition — and we’re here to make sure they’re part of your plan.
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