“Is the future electric?” automotive analyst Glenn Mercer asked about dealerships in his NADA workshop Saturday.

The answer, clearly, is yes.

“We are only discussing timing,” Mercer told his audience.

In a separate workshop, “Introducing the Next Generation of EV Buyers,” research and data analysis firm Escalent said dealers need to anticipate different types of electric vehicle shoppers in the next few years, as EV penetration goes mainstream.

By “next generation,” Escalent is referring to a new wave of buyers — not necessarily a younger generation, he said, although the new wave does tend to be younger than average for new-car buyers.

Instead, the new buyers are showing up with different priorities from early EV adopters, who are mostly Tesla buyers, said Mike Dovorany, Escalent vice president, automotive and mobility.

Early EV adopters did their own research and boned up on all aspects of EV ownership, such as home charging. “You ask them if they want assistance, and they say, ‘I got it,’ ” Dovorany said.

But new buyers are less engaged in the EV space and want answers to practical questions about home charging and tax credits, for instance. And they expect to get those answers from dealerships, he said.

That large new majority is going to need a safety net, said Escalent’s Dania Rich-Spencer, also vice president, automotive and mobility “They’re going to need their confidence built,” she said. “They’re going to look to the dealer to be providing that.”

Mercer said separately that the forecast for EV market share varies widely, depending on how fast adoption catches on. His forecast for battery-powered EVs is 8 percent of U.S. light-vehicle sales in 2025, or around 1.4 million vehicles, roughly twice what it is today.

But Mercer said he has increased that forecast three times since 2016.

“The point is, EV penetration is growing fast, it’s substantial, and dealerships better be getting ready,” he said.

Rich-Spencer said consumer research shows a giant increase in EV consideration — once customers take a test drive.

“It’s so important for you to get butts in seats,” she told the workshop audience. “It’s so hard to appreciate the EV experience without the experience. This is where the dealership can shine.”