The Government is to continue supporting the NFDA’s Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) accreditation scheme for dealers until the end of the current financial year.

The ‘Electric Vehicle Approved’ branding aims to increase driver confidence

Introduced in 2019 by the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), the scheme supports both dealers and driver confidence in electric vehicles by providing an EV-specific accreditation to retailers who meet a set of standards.

The scheme, which is endorsed and subsidised by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and independently audited by the Energy Saving Trust, recently passed the milestone of 300 EVA-accredited sites in February, with many more accreditations in the pipeline.

For the year ending April 2023, the Government will continue to fund the scheme for small franchised and independent dealers. Ministers have also agreed to extend the Repair and Aftersales centre pilot scheme for six months, closing at the end of September.

Transport Minister Trudy Harrison said: “As we drive towards our net zero ambitions, it’s vital dealerships have the right level of skills and expertise to advise drivers on the important benefits of switching to electric vehicles.

“That’s why this Government has supported the brilliant EVA scheme to build buyers’ confidence when thinking of buying an electric vehicle and encourage more motorists to go-electric.”

Tim Anderson, group head of transport at the Energy Saving Trust, added: “The EVA scheme has been instrumental in empowering retailers to enhance their expertise and supporting consumer confidence when purchasing electric vehicles. We welcome the Government’s decision to focus the scheme on smaller dealerships, to ensure that funding for the necessary audits reaches the businesses that need it most.

“We look forward to continuing our support of the scheme and working closely with OZEV and the NFDA in the transition to net zero.”