Electric Cars - what do your customers expect you to know?

Aimed at customer service and operational support teams who provide day-to-day advice and guidance to fleets and drivers, this course is suitable for staff at all levels in customer support functions.  It will also provide useful insights for staff in Sales, Account Management, Customer Services, fleet and operations and other driver support roles in the industry.  

Course Content

Structured in two complementary modules, the course will cover the following areas : -

Module 1 – Market overview of the EV market from a company car perspective

• What’s driving the interest in EVs?
• Roadmap to 2035
• What EVs are available – and what’s coming into the market?
• BIK  position on EVs – cars
  • Salary Sacrifice on EVs
  • Workplace charging and business use
• Charging
  • Types of charge sockets
  • How and where to charge
• Grants and incentives on EVs
• Servicing and Maintenance of EVs
• Safety and Recalls
• Battery health and warranties
• Duty of Care
• Driver Comms /FAQs
• Grid capacity
• Alternative fuels
  • Hydrogen and Synthetic Fuels
• Introduce BVRLA used vehicle incentives
• Journey Calculator
• Energy Tariffs and their importance for EV drivers

Module 2 – Providing practical advice and guidance to customers operating or driving EVs

• What do the lights on an EV dashboard mean?
• Charging an EV
  • What do AC and DC mean?
  • What do kW and kWh mean?
  • Calculating how long to charge an EV.
  • Calculating how much it costs to charge an EV.
  • Maximum charge rates (and why they are important)
  • What is a ‘charge curve’? – And why this can help avoid driver complaints around charge speeds
  • What are the different connector types?
• Where can EVs be serviced?
• Breaking down in an EV
  • Running out of charge
• Useful Apps to facilitate EV driving.
• Road handling of an EV - how do they ‘feel’?
• Tyres on EVs
  • Tyre wear and tyre selection
• What impacts range?
  • And what DOESN’T impact range?
  • And why drivers may not achieve stated range.
• What affects battery health?
• Taking an EV abroad
• Tips to maximise cost effective and environmental EV charging.
• Regenerative braking
• Compatibility of charge sockets
• Common issues an EV driver may raise.
• Servicing and Maintenance of EVs
• Clean Air Zones and London ULEZ

At the end of the course, attendees will :

• Have the confidence to communicate with drivers, customers and fleet operators and support them adapting to EV driving
• Explain how to avoid and overcome common issues with EV driving
• Have awareness of the current and developing EV market
• Develop an understanding of the EV charging landscape
  • And how to confidently explain this to a customer

Jon Burdekin has 30 years’ experience in the UK leasing and fleet finance industry, having previously worked for such major leasing companies as Alphabet GB Ltd and GE Capital Fleet Services.  His 15 year career with Alphabet incorporated roles as Account Manager, Head of Account Management, Head of Consulting Services and Head of Product Management as well as leading the consultancy division to add key value differentiation and technical innovation.

Client relationships that Jon had direct responsibility for included McDonald’s, Shell, Oracle, Royal and Sun Alliance, Royal London Mutual Assurance and the BBC. By managing such large vehicle fleets, he has gained extensive knowledge in all aspects of fleet management, including vehicle acquisition methods, cost control, driver risk, and vehicle choice list analysis.

A subject matter expert in the adoption of electric vehicles into company fleets, Jon also has deep levels of knowledge in the tax efficient alternatives to company vehicle funding and Grey Fleet Management.

Jon has run his own fleet consultancy business since January 2019 with the aim of helping businesses manage their vehicle fleets more effectively and futureproofing the fleet by implementing the transition to 100% electric by 2030

9.30 - 12.00 Module 1 – Market overview of the EV market from a company car perspective

13.00 - 15.30 Module 2 - Module 2 – Providing practical advice and guidance to customers operating or driving EVs

Please use the drop down menu on the right hand side of this page to see the dates that are currently available.

All courses are now held via an interactive online tool. Details of which will be sent when booking has been confirmed. 

*Book your spaces 2 weeks or more in advance of the course date and receive a £100 discount on the course fee*

Instructor-led Online Price:  

Member Fee £299 + VAT (Full Price £199 + VAT less than 2 weeks before the course date)

Non-Member Fee £199 + VAT (Full Price £299 + VAT less than 2 weeks before the course date)

2025 Pricing

*Book your spaces 2 weeks or more in advance of the course date and receive a £100 discount on the course fee*

Member Fee £329 + VAT (Full Price £429 + VAT less than 2 weeks before the course date)

Non-Member Fee £629 + VAT (Full Price £529 + VAT less than 2 weeks before the course date)

'The trainer, was excellent, very knowledgeable and passionate in regards to all things related to electric vehicles and a great asset. Very refreshing. A fun and interactive session. Thank you very much.' Fozia Mehmood, Leasys UK

'Course was excellent.  John is clearly an expert on the subject and explains things in a way that can be easily understood.  Pace was good and he regularly checked to see if anyone had questions or comments.  I came away with lots of useful information and really felt that it was worth the time and cost to take the course.' Joanna Burley, CAP HPI Ltd

This course, alongside our whole course portfolio, can be 'Driven by You' exclusively for your business. Visit our BVRLA Driven by You page find out more.