Electric Vehicle Charging Points

It’s reasonable to estimate that guests who own an electric car are more likely to book a holiday let that does include a charging point. And the numbers in the UK are constantly growing.

EV drivers are also ‘connected’ to numerous apps that indicate exactly where available charge points are located so that they can plan their trips. Imagine a guest with an electric car is staying in a holiday cottage near yours which doesn’t have a charger, but they can see via their app that yours does. This may well result in them choosing your property next time they return to the area.

Add in the social and environmental reasons for including one, and you can see why adding an EVCP is a great selling point.

There may well be electric vehicle charging points near your holiday cottage, but it’s not the most convenient option for any guest as the charging process can take time. Guests don’t want to spend their holiday sitting in a supermarket car park charging their vehicle.

Installing a charger is also especially worthwhile if your property is in a particularly rural location with few, if any, public charging facilities. This can cause some anxiety if guests fear they might run out of battery before they can reach a charger.

Not a great start to their holiday in Yorkshire!

Research suggests that 90% of EV charging takes place at the home, and not at a public site. So, the ability to leave an EV on charge overnight at your holiday cottage is always going to be most convenient for your guests.

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 continue to surge year on year.

Guests now expect the essentials in a holiday home; wi-fi, smart tv’s, Bluetooth speakers. In the near future guests will come to expect a charging point for their EV ‘as standard’ – as traditional fuel becomes less popular.

Organisations like the RAC cite that an at home charging point typically costs around £800, whilst EDF Energy is offering a smart home charger, fully installed from £549.

It all depends on the type of charging device you decide on, and your existing electricity supply capabilities. The above prices assume that it would be easy to connect your new charger to the existing electricity infrastructure.

Also, do check with your accountant if the installation costs are tax-deductible.

It’s a good idea to check for any available government and local government EV schemes as you may be able to apply for a grant of up to 75% (correct at the time of writing) towards the cost of your new EV charging point.

For example, there’s the OLEV Grant, also known as Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which could reduce the cost of your home charger by up to £350.

Securing a grant could mean that, ultimately, you’re only paying a fraction of the cost you first expected.

First, you need to establish whether your property can have a home charging point installed. The main criteria are usually:

• You have dedicated off-street parking available
• There’s a Wi-Fi connection at your property, or a SIM router with a 3G or 4G SIM

Charging point options:

• A freestanding or a (wall or post) mounted charging point
• Different charging speed capabilities (e.g. ‘rapid’ vs ‘ultra-rapid’)
• One or multiple sockets on your device
• Do you want to monitor guest usage and charge them? Speak to an EV charge point specialist about this, as they can help you decide the best option for you.
• Whether you’d like a key switch fitted to prevent unauthorised use when your accommodation is empty (or an RFID card, key fob, etc.)