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Almost half (48%) of electric vehicle drivers in the UK would choose not to stay at a hotel without onsite EV chargers, a new report from SMS plc has revealed.
The report, which studied over 1,000 UK EV drivers, explored the current experience of those who use, and rely on, public EV charging points.
Over two-thirds (67% of respondents stated that EV charging is influencing their choice of hotel, with 48% simply choosing to not stay at a hotel without onsite chargers. Only 29% of those in the study had used hotel EV charge points during an overnight stay for leisure and business travel.
Despite 94% of respondents reporting that they loved their electric car, 68% said it is stressful to always have to think about public charging availability when they take a long journey.
Meanwhile, 88% expressed that public EV charging needs improvement in the UK if more drivers are to make the transition to electric vehicles.
The number of fully electric or hybrid cars on UK roads recently hit over 1.3 million, yet less than 7% (or 3,100) of the UK’s charge points are located at hotels.
As a result of historically long wait times and lack of availability, 83% of respondents are prepared to wait to access an EV charger at a hotel, while over a third (38%) would consider a wait of up to an hour, and a quarter (26%) up to two hours.
However, over three-quarters (77%) are willing to pay for an EV concierge service at a hotel in order to limit the inconvenience caused by waiting.
Mark Winn, head of EV strategy at SMS plc, said: “Onsite EV charge points should no longer be seen as a competitive advantage for UK hotels; it’s the guest experience surrounding them that delivers the point of differentiation. By offering convenient and seamless EV charging options, both independent hotels and the larger hotel groups can encourage guests to return and increase brand loyalty.
“However, understanding how to implement the most effective EV charging infrastructure can be a minefield. Not all EV charge points are created equal; the type required varies depending on where it’s being installed and who is using it.”
He added: “A central part of ensuring a premium experience for hotel guests, once onsite EV charge points are installed, is to make access and payment as simple and transparent as possible.”
