Chester T. Dean 
The NFDA secured funding for its Approved Electric Vehicle (EVA) Accreditation Program through the end of the fiscal year.
The government will continue to fund the program for small franchised and independent dealerships. In addition, ministers agreed to extend the pilot repair and after-sales center program by six months, until the end of September.
The EVA Accreditation Program was developed in 2019 by the NFDA to encourage retailers to build expertise in the electric vehicle industry and support consumer confidence as the market moves towards electric vehicles.
EVA certifies the efforts and investments that retailers are making to meet the ever-increasing consumer demand for electric vehicles. It is the only system that provides EV-specific accreditation to retailers who meet a set of standards.
It is approved and subsidized by the Government Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and is independently audited by Energy Saving Trust.
Sue Robinson, NFDA Chief Executive, said: “The NFDA welcomes the government’s decision to expand funding for the Approved Electric Vehicle Certification Program. The continued support from governing bodies is testament to the key role retailers are playing in electrification and the transition to a zero-emissions market.
We look forward to extending our collaboration with the Government Office for Zero Emission Vehicles and Energy Saving Trust for another year.
Ministers are said to have been impressed by efforts by the NFDA and the Energy Saving Trust to approve a significant number of dealerships supplying electric vehicles, recently reaching the milestone of 300 EVA-accredited sites in February, with many more retailers in the pipeline.
Transport Minister Trudy Harrison added: “As we move towards our net zero ambitions, it is essential that dealers have the right level of skills and expertise to advise drivers on the significant benefits of switching to electric vehicles.
“That’s why this government has backed the brilliant EVA program to boost buyer confidence when considering an electric vehicle and encourage more motorists to go electric.”
