A new UK government-backed scheme will give an official stamp of approval to dealerships that are skilled in selling and servicing electric vehicles (EVs).

The ‘Electric Vehicle Approved’ brand aims to create a trusted brand and promote Dealers that have been approved to crack down on poor advice and increase the confidence of drivers looking to buy EVs.

Many consumers are said to find buying a plug-in car more complex than purchasing an internal combustion engine vehicle; they need to consider different elements – such as battery range and the availability of charging points – when buying an alternatively-fuelled vehicle as opposed to petrol or diesel cars.

As a result, retailers need to be able to answer all the questions customers may have, explain the benefits of owning an EV, clarify any possible confusion and, in addition, that servicing an electric car requires a different level of specialisation and training.

The standard for EV Dealer accreditation – developed by the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) and the Energy Saving Trust – will also encourage car Dealers to develop their expertise in servicing EVs as the UK moves towards a zero-emission future.

Following a pilot scheme that ran from November 2018 to February 2019, in which the EV skills of 12 dealerships were audited, it is already estimated there will be 130 electric vehicle approved sites across the UK by the end of 2019.

Future of Mobility Minister, Jesse Norman, said, “Record levels of ultra-low emission vehicles on our roads are good news as we seek to end the sale of new conventional diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2040.

“The accreditation recognises businesses with knowledge, capability and commitment to electric vehicles and will help encourage more car owners to switch to a greener alternative.”