Shoreham Vehicle Auctions and the Energy Saving Trust have teamed up to launch a series of EV training sessions which aim to educate the motor trade on all aspects of selling electric cars.

The partnership has time and resources into understanding the technology that will benefit sales teams at independent dealerships across Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex that are currently within Shoreham’s growing buyer base.

Shoreham’s free, three-hour sessions aim to help strengthen the residual values of EVs and empower dealerships to act as EV experts to trade and private buyers, it said.

“With approximately 90% of drivers travelling under 80 miles per day, we have identified a large proportion of potential EV owners where the technology is perfect for their daily driving patterns,” said Alex Wright, managing director at Shoreham.

“The dealerships that we’ve already worked with are hungry for as much information as possible on EVs.

“The ongoing demonisation of diesel is only fuelling consumer interest and intrigue in EV technology; our sessions will give sales teams the answers to the questions they are expected to be asked.

“We’re finding that the longevity and performance of batteries are no longer an issue. In fact, the Energy Saving Trust predicts they’ll outlast the life of the car itself, giving buyers increased confidence to purchase.”

Shoreham said that it could benefit the wider market to have improved training on EVs at an independent level.

A total of 12 retailers have taken up the offer of Shoreham’s training so far and it described the used market as at “the epicentre of electric vehicle take up”, in a statement, adding: “If it continues to grow in strength, fleets – and in particular leasing companies – will select an increasing number of EVs on contract hire agreements, safe in the knowledge that there is a used buyer base ready to purchase an EV at the end of a three year contract.”