Major dealer employs EV sales specialist

This story first appeared in the February issue of EVTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

Learning about electric vehicles (EVs) has been a “steep learning curve” for Andrew Dudley.

Genuine Vehicle Import’s (GVI) EV specialist says he is a convert to the technology after taking on the role four months ago.

“I was all about the combustion engine. Now I’m immersed in the EV culture and technology.”

He is predicting 2017 will be the “Year of the EV” as charging infrastructure continues to be built and people become more concerned about driving a car that is environmentally-friendly.

Dudley’s prediction is certainly proving to be true so far.

January has been his most successful month, breaking double digits for EVs sold for the first time during his tenure at the company.

The most popular model he has sold since starting at GVI is the Nissan Leaf because of its reliability, with BMWs and Mercedes-Benz some of the other brands in stock.

And he is proud to admit to driving a Leaf to and from work, which is a fantastically smooth ride.

“Electric cars are not wind-up toys. The battery sits quite low, so they are not affected in a gust of wind.”

Not only is the Leaf great during the crawl to work, it also performs well on the race track as Dudley discovered at Hampton Downs, pushing it to its limits.

“I put it through its paces. It shows the potential of an EV in a controlled environment.”

More to learn

Despite his impressive success in the EV sector, Dudley says he is a long way from being an expert.
“I’m still researching. That will not stop.

“Basically I have been going cross-eyed looking at a screen for much longer than is healthy.”
Research also involves travel, with a trip to the UK last year opening Dudley’s eyes up to some of the other EV models on the market.
That includes the Nissan Tekna, which GVI has since imported.

Another trend he has noticed is most people buy EVs as a second car.

“They’ve taken that first step. They can see EVs are good for the environment and good for the country.”
In terms of bigger EV cars, Dudley says they are still developing.

“A Nissan e-NV200 is a good option for the EV purists, while a hybrid version of the Mitsubishi Outlander is another solid choice.”

Safety first

Dudley says GVI does its best to make sure customers are educated about the fundamentals before buying an EV.

That includes a free assessment for anyone who buys an EV to make sure charging at home is safe.

Particularly in older homes with ageing switchboards, upgrades can cost from $300, he says.

“As a retailer, we have to make sure customers are aware of the safety requirements needed for home charging.
“What they save in fuel the first month often pays for the electricity upgrade.”

EV servicing and repairs are also offered by GVI in case customers have any problems, Dudley says.

Specialist field

GVI general manager Hayden Johnston says the company’s used EV sales, which have been developing for more than two years, have grown strongly since Dudley took over.

Selling used EVs requires a particular set of skills, which Dudley has developed very quickly, Johnston says.

“Selling EVs is like selling new cars. You’ve got to spend time with people because they have lots of questions.

“They want to confirm what they have learned. If they don’t have confidence in the person selling, the people won’t buy the vehicle.”