April 1, 2025

Dealership to Depot: Ensuring Smooth Fleet Electrification

6 Min. Read

• Selecting Optimal EVs: Partner with EV-friendly dealerships to choose from over 70 EV models, leveraging test-driving events, expert guidance on range and cargo needs, and access to financing, leasing, and incentives like the Clean Vehicle Tax Credit to reduce costs.
• Comprehensive Dealership Support: Dealerships offer maintenance plans for battery health and software updates, driver training programs, and telematics integration to enhance operational efficiency and ensure a smooth transition to electric fleets.
• Building Charging Infrastructure: Collaborate with dealerships to plan charging strategies, utilizing their $5.5 billion investment in EV charging, alongside at-home Level 2 or depot-based DC Fast chargers, to support fleet scalability and minimize downtime.

As businesses are starting to recognize long-term benefits of electric vehicles (EVs)—lower costs, smarter telematics, and a stronger commitment to sustainability and regulatory compliance, fleet electrification is gaining momentum.

While dealerships play a key role in getting fleets started with EV purchases and maintenance plans, true transformation goes far beyond simply purchasing EVs. You need robust charging infrastructure, advanced fleet management strategies, and seamless operational integration to scale successfully.

In this article, we will explore how you can partner with your local dealership to help create a smooth transition to an electric fleet.

Choosing the Right Fleet EV

With over 70 EV models offering various ranges and cargo options in 2025, choosing the right fit for your fleet takes careful research. Given the higher upfront costs of EVs compared to traditional gas vehicles, choosing the best option for your needs is essential.

So, how can your local EV dealership help you find exactly what you’re looking for?

According to Jake Lowe, Qmerit’s Director of Fleet & European Program Operations, “A good place to start is by attending test-driving events to see what is available and narrow down your choices. An experienced salesperson can also share comparison data for features and help you explore state and federal incentives to lower the upfront cost of fleet electrification.”

Fleet Electrification: How EV-Friendly Auto Dealerships Can Help

Currently, only 14% of fleets include electric vehicles, but adoption is set to surge, with 87% of fleet managers planning to invest in EVs.

As a result of this shift, EV-friendly dealership are emerging across the world. Besides having EVs in their inventories, these dealerships offer expert guidance on fleet electrification and can become valuable partners by giving you access to the following services.

EV Maintenance

A well-structured EV maintenance plan from your local dealership helps keep your fleet running smoothly by addressing routine servicing needs, software updates, and battery health monitoring.

Partnering with an EV-friendly dealership ensures your fleet stays on the road with minimal downtime, optimizing both operational efficiency and return on investment.

Purchasing Advice

Choosing the right EV for your fleet can be challenging, but an expert from your dealership can help. They’ll guide you through available makes and models, ensuring you select the best options based on your fleet’s current stage of electrification.

For many fleet managers, starting with a pilot program is a smart approach to electrification. It allows for a smooth transition, with the flexibility to scale up if the initial rollout is successful. This is where expert guidance becomes invaluable—helping you set clear goals, assess performance, and determine the best EV models to incorporate as you expand your fleet.

Cost Savings

How can an EV-friendly dealership help cut your fleet electrification costs? Many lenders offer special interest rates for EV financing, and the right dealership can help you secure these EV-friendly loans to reduce your total cost of ownership.

Lowe adds, “If you’re not quite ready to fully invest in purchasing vehicles, many dealerships now offer EV leasing as a popular option for fleets. If you’re seeking lower upfront costs, look for a dealership that provides flexible leasing arrangements.”

Additionally, your dealership can help you review federal incentives such as the Clean Vehicle Tax Credit, state programs, and other ways to save on your EV purchase.

Training and Driving Events

From driving events to training programs, dealerships play a crucial role in helping fleet drivers adopt EVs, ensuring they feel comfortable both behind the wheel and when it comes to charging.

Technology Partners

Fleet electrification paves the way for better operations – provided that you fully use your EVs’ telematics features. Working with an EV expert at your local dealership can be a first step toward building this modern data infrastructure to help support your business.

Expanding Fleet Electrification: Your Local Dealership As a Charging Partner

Before expanding your electric fleet, you’ll need a strong EV infrastructure with plenty of charging options. Your local auto dealership can simplify the process by assisting you in setting up the right charging solution.

EV experts from your dealership can help you determine how often your fleet EVs will need charging and how long charging will take. With this information, you’ll know how much downtime to expect before your EVs are even on the roads.

Input from an EV expert can also give you a better idea of how much you’ll save with an electric fleet. On average, driving an EV saves you 7.4 cents per mile, but savings can vary based on your state, EV model, and driving conditions.

As your fleet grows, you will need to build your own EV charging infrastructure. Common options include rolling out Level 2 at-home charging for your fleet drivers and building a central EV depot with Level 2 or DC Fast charging stations. Your local dealership can help you navigate these important decisions by assessing your charging needs.

Another way to keep your fleet charged is by leveraging the $5.5 billion investment U.S. auto dealerships have made in EV charging infrastructure. By negotiating a partnership with a local dealership, you can supplement your own charging setup and allow your fleet vehicles to charge on their lot when needed.

Even though your local dealership can be a great resource for planning your charging strategy, keep in mind that you’ll also need the help of a skilled electrical contractor. Only an experienced EV installer can assess how to best use on-site depot charging, at-home chargers, and public charging networks to grow your fleet’s service area.

Partnerships Are the Key to Successful Fleet Electrification

From your initial EV purchase to developing a strong charging strategy as you scale your EV fleet, your local auto dealership is a valuable partner in your electrification journey.

As more dealerships adopt an EV-friendly model, fleet dealership partnerships are emerging as a key element of widespread electrification.

It’s not the only kind of partnership that can support successful fleet electrification. You’ll also need an EV charging installation expert.

As the largest and most trusted electrification network in North America, our network of certified electricians has installed over 770,000 EV charging stations in homes and businesses across the U.S. and Canada. We’ve earned our reputation as the most experienced and high-quality electrification service and EV charger installation network and can help make your transition easy with our experience and commitment to your business.

Learn more about EV fleet charging solutions for corporate vehicles and contact Qmerit to explore how fleet electrification can save you money, improve your brand reputation, and help build your business for the future!