Offering an electric vehicle (EV) charging point at your short-term rental certainly helps you stand out. However, it remains a niche amenity as only about 10% of vehicles are electric across the globe.
The number of charging points has been a hot topic in the UK for several years – especially with government plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035 (it had been 2030 until Rishi Sunak’s recent announcement).
Whatever the government legislation, there can be no denying the electric trend and the need to cater for guests with these types of vehicles.
Of course, many homes, including short-term rentals, now feature EV charging points – but they remain a ‘nice to have’ rather than essential. But that is likely to change over the next decade or so as government legislation, public perception, and car manufacturers go green.
A word of caution though in the current market. In recent weeks, we’ve noticed an increase in the number of hosts complaining about guests using mains electricity to charge their vehicles. Writing on Facebook, one host said the car charging alone had cost him £20 – and when he queried this, the guest said he hadn’t been told he couldn’t charge his car, so hooked the motor up using a three-pin plug (and presumably a very long lead).
So…unless you have an EV charger at your property, you might want to update your check-in details to say charging is not allowed unless agreed beforehand (or something along those lines). Otherwise, your energy bills might be about to climb even higher.
On the flip side, having an EV charger at your property is an extra amenity and an opportunity to boost revenue. One host told me their charger was locked but could be made available to guests for an extra fee.
As ever, communication is key – whether you have a charging point or not.
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