{"id":6556,"date":"2022-06-30T09:28:02","date_gmt":"2022-06-30T09:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.schofields.ltd.uk\/blog\/?p=6556"},"modified":"2024-08-01T15:15:44","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T15:15:44","slug":"electric-vehicle-charging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schofields.ltd.uk\/blog\/6556\/electric-vehicle-charging\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Electric Vehicle Charging at Your Holiday Cottage"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 7<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"Electric<\/p>\n

There has been a rapid growth in the ownership of electric vehicles [EVs] in the last few years, with over 1.1 million fully electric cars and over 1.8 million plug-in hybrids on UK roads.<\/p>\n

This inevitably means that a proportion of guests will travel to a holiday let in an EV or hybrid car. There\u2019s a huge demand for holiday home owners to offer guests the facility to charge their car whilst on holiday.<\/p>\n

So, is it the right time to provide an electric vehicle charging point at your holiday let to attract EV owners? There are lots to consider before making the investment. In this post, we\u2019ll look at the benefits of having an EV charging point, the risks and how much they cost to install and run.<\/p>\n

The benefits of offering an electric vehicle charging point at your holiday cottage<\/span>
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There are several reasons to invest in an EV charging device for your holiday let.<\/p>\n

It will attract more bookings<\/span>
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It\u2019s reasonable to assume that potential guests who own EVs are more likely to book a holiday let that includes a charging point. In fact, \u2018ev charging\u2019 is among the most searched for filter by travellers on listing sites.<\/p>\n

EV drivers are also \u2018connected\u2019 to numerous apps that indicate exactly where available charge points are located so that they can plan trips. Imagine a guest with an electric car is staying in a holiday cottage near yours which doesn\u2019t have a charger, but they can see via their app that yours does. They would likely choose your property should they return to the area due to the convenience of charging their car whilst staying at your property.<\/p>\n

The convenience of an on-site charging point at your holiday let is a great selling point, will make your property stand out, and increase its appeal to a wider market.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s more convenient for your guests<\/span>
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There may indeed be some charging points near your holiday cottage, but it\u2019s not the most convenient option for any EV-owning guests as the charging process can take some time. Guests don\u2019t want to spend their holiday time sitting in a supermarket car park charging their vehicle.<\/p>\n

Installing a charger is also worthwhile if your property is in a particularly rural location with few, if any, public charging facilities, that involve a detour for guests. This can cause \u2018range anxiety\u2019 if guests fear they are going to run out of battery before they get to a charger. Not a great start to a holiday.<\/p>\n

Research suggests that 90% of EV charging takes place at a home, and not at a public site. So, the ability to leave an EV on charge overnight at your holiday property is always going to be most convenient for your paying visitors. This convenience can help you stand out from the local competition.<\/p>\n

Your competitors already offer a charging point<\/span>
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There\u2019s no getting away from the fact that many holiday letting businesses are quick off the mark and have been offering an EV charger as a service to guests for some time already.<\/p>\n

Sykes, for example, currently offers over a thousand holiday cottages with EV charging points. Holiday letting businesses like these have been able to reap the benefits of attracting new and repeat bookers by being early adopters of EV charging technology. This, no doubt will have granted them the edge over some of their competitors.<\/p>\n

Charging points at holiday lets will eventually be \u2018the norm\u2019<\/span>
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Due to climate concerns and the incoming ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles, the number of guests with an electric vehicle is expected to surge.<\/p>\n

Just as guests will always expect the essentials in a holiday home such as wi-fi and smart TVs, in the near future guests will come to expect a charging point for their EV \u2018as standard\u2019.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll be positively contributing toward a greener planet<\/span>
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You may already be providing solar energy or eco-friendly products at your holiday home, in which case, supporting the use of electric cars is a natural next step to help cater for eco-conscious guests.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re already an eco-conscious holiday let owner or not, there\u2019s no denying that now is the time for us all to \u2018do our bit\u2019 towards saving the environment.<\/p>\n

How much does an EV charging device cost to buy and install?<\/span>
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It all depends on the type of charging device you choose (standing or wall-mounted, single or dual-socket, speed of charge) and your existing electricity supply capabilities.\u00a0Typically, a 7kW charging unit will cost between \u00a3800 – \u00a31500.\u00a0It is also worth remembering that any costs incurred installing an EV charger at your holiday home should be tax-deductible, but check with your accountant.<\/p>\n

How much does it cost to charge an EV?<\/span>
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EVs use power that\u2019s measured in kilowatts (kWh), with batteries that have a capacity ranging from 17kWh to around 100kWh. kWh is the same unit that your regular electricity supply at home is measured in.<\/p>\n

The average cost incurred for fully charging an EV will vary, depending on the charging point\u2019s speed capability, the size of the car battery and the tariff. According to Podpoint, the cost to charge a typical electric car at home with a 60kWh battery and 200-mile range costs about\u00a0\u00a313.00<\/strong> for a full charge.<\/p>\n

To get an accurate cost per kWh, shop around. At the moment, many utility companies (such as Octopus) are offering tariffs and deals targeted at EV drivers (with some of these suppliers also being able to supply renewable energy as part of their offering).<\/p>\n

Should you charge guests to charge their EV at your holiday let?<\/span>
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When deciding whether to charge, it\u2019s a good idea to look at what someone might be paying to stay at your holiday let versus how much electrical energy they could potentially use charging their car.<\/p>\n

A large group with several EVs paying \u00a3300 to stay over a weekend in the low season could reduce your income by 10-20% due to the cost of charging their cars. However, charging a one-car family an extra \u00a320 for EV charging who is paying \u00a32000 to stay at your cottage could be considered \u2018penny-pinching\u2019.<\/p>\n

You could factor EV charging costs into your rental rates. Increasing your rates by \u00a320 per week may cover the cost depending on your tariff and the battery size of the typical guests\u2019 car. Alternatively, offer it as an option on your booking form (as some hosts do for dogs) and charge a fee.<\/p>\n

Some charge points have a linked app so that you can see exactly how much the guest is using, so you can bill them. Alternatively, guests install an app for the charger (such as Voltshare) and pay based on the charge \u2013 like the \u201cpay at the pump\u201d option at fuel stations.<\/p>\n

Considerations when installing an EV charging point\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

First, you need to establish whether your property is suitable to have a home charging point installed. The main things to check before you order a unit are:<\/p>\n