eMobility – Partners

IMPRESSIVE CHANGE

HOW THE SALES AND SERVICE NETWORK IS PREPARING FOR THE START OF eMOBILITY

he ENYAQ iV will be added to other electrically powered models in showrooms. The new iV series products (CITIGOe iV, as well as the SUPERB and OCTAVIA hybrids) have been on sale since last September, and the sales and service partners have also had to adapt to them. 

Charging according to sales capacity

In addition to training employees, we have had to add charging elements to our infrastructure. Two ŠKODA wallboxes are standard: One is used for presentations in the showroom, the other for presenting functionalities at the car handover point. There is one mobile charging station and one other charging point in the area, both with an 11 kW output. “This is the absolute minimum, and we have prepared a so-called ŠKODA Charging Matrix for dealerships recommending the number and performance of charging elements based upon the expected number of cars sold”, explains Jiří Pitrmoc from the VBO/1 – Distribution Strategy and Special Projects department. For example, if a dealer sells six to 10 electric cars a week, they should have 10 charging stations, including one with a 50 kW output.

MONTHS OR 30,000 KILOMETERS REPRESENT THE INTERVAL AFTER WHICH AN E-CAR OWNER HAS TO GO TO THE FIRST MANDATORY SERVICE INSPECTION  

DEALERS WILL CHARGE AN E-CAR AT LEAST TO THIS VALUE WHEN HANDING IT OVER TO THE ELASTOMER

Digital performance

Dealers can choose between two basic ways of presenting e-cars. The first option is to place it in front of a special screen, where the car complements a wallbox stand. In the second case, visitors will find an interactive stand next to the car (see picture). In addition to the charger, it has a large touch screen to guide customers through the car’s specifics or charging options. It also contains interesting tools to convince potential buyers of the e-car’s benefits, such as a range calculator or a tool to compare the e-car operating costs with a combustion engine car.

Dealing with the batteries

eMobility also places high demands on service stations. Brand partners are divided into three levels, depending on their qualification for working with high-voltage devices. The service stations in the first category, which is mandatory for all partners, only carry out car maintenance. In the second, batteries are handled but, in this case, are not dismantled by the employees. Third-level partners are allowed to make repairs inside the battery. The manufacturer’s or the importer’s service team will take care of any specific problems with the batteries. Given the risks associated with working with high-voltage batteries, all service stations also have to be equipped with a so-called quarantine area. It is an open-air space at least 5 metres away from other cars, buildings and flammable objects. ED