Electric Vehicles Industry Panel: EV Future Faces Host of Challenges

By Jeffrey Bellant

LAS VEGAS – The topic of EVs raised more questions than answers during a panel discussion at the recent Conference of Automotive Remarketing.

The panel was moderated by Tom Stewart of Auction Management Solutions and sponsored by the International Automotive Remarketers Alliance.

Panelists Michele Pierog of ParkMyFleet; Jeremy Louisos of Preowned Auto Logistics; John Mathiowetz of IAA; and Doug Turner of Byrider are all part of IARA’s Industry Advancement Committee, which covers various EV issues.

Stewart kicked off the discussion by asking the tough question: what is the primary concern of consignors when it comes to EVs?

Mathiowetz suggested the answer keeps evolving.

“I think the more we learn, the more questions we have,” he said.

He said a couple of years ago he and IARA Board Chairman Paul Seger interviewed more than 30 consignors and the questions centered on batteries, charging, infrastructure, etc.

“This is still really new to the industry,” Mathiowetz said. “At this point, 2% to 3% of vehicles at auction – if you include hybrid.

“It’s something we’re still not prepared for.”

From a consignor standpoint, the question is how do they put them into their fleets, how do they depreciate that asset, etc.

“But just solely from a remarketing perspective, what we need to be concerned about as auctions is how can you make sure you have the infrastructure to supply the charging,” Mathiowetz said. “If it’s a damaged battery, what do you do then? How

do you deplete that energy and make safety a priority?”

As a remarketer, Turner said he is not seeing any EVs in his portfolio. But he is seeing them come to auctions.

“I really think the important thing, not only from a consignor’s perspective but from an auction perspective, is how can you tell the story and the history of that car?” Turner said.

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