City Launches EV Ready Dealership Program

The City of Albuquerque introduced a new Electrified Dealer Program designed to enhance the electric vehicle (EV) purchasing experience and help increase EV purchasing and leasing in the Albuquerque area. Through this program, local dealers can take advantage of specialized EV training and educational materials.

Dealership training lasts approximately one hour twice a year and covers how to engage with prospective EV buyers, EV charging overview, and an overview of Albuquerque’s EV programming. Dealers are required to have EV inventory and charging stations on their lots. Dealerships must also actively sell EVs and share their monthly EV sales data with the City. Participates will gain recognition on the City’s website, have co-marketing opportunities, and promotional materials.

“We know that the future of the auto industry is electric and low-emissions vehicles, and it’s important for Albuquerque to be a part of that change,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We’ve already installed the infrastructure for EV charging across our city and now we’re calling on our local businesses to join us in the fight against climate change.”

This project builds on the Keller Administration’s substantial work to date on sustainability, including:

• Won a $2.7 million federal grant to bring the first electric buses to Albuquerque,
• Signed the Paris Agreement, after President Trump pulled out, committing the city to climate action,
• Installed 38 solar projects at city-owned buildings,
• Launched the Green Team to expand sustainability across departments,
• Launched the Mayor’s Energy Challenge to support local businesses reduce energy use,
• Won Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge with funding for sustainability efforts,
• Made the transition to more sustainable LED street lights citywide,
• Provided over 200 homes with free energy audits and upgrades in partnership with PNM, Partnership for Community Action and Prosperity Works,
• Partnered with PNM to launch the Solar Direct project to get to achieve over 80% renewable energy use by Fall 2021,
• Purchased the first electric vehicles for the City fleet, and enacted a “Zero Emissions First” fleet vehicle adoption policy,
• Achieved LEED for Cities Silver certification,
• Ranked 40th on the 2020 City Clean Energy Scorecard—and 5th most improved—by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE),
• Invested $300,000 in VW settlement funding to add 18 electric charging stations in Albuquerque by Summer 2021, and
• Launched the 2021 Climate Action Plan.