Adding an EV chargepoint to your holiday rental could be a great investment opportunity, attracting holidaymakers to book with you because of the added convenience of this service. Our guide will talk you through the frequently asked questions, and top considerations, covering all you need to know about making this addition to your property rental.
Government Funding
The OZEV workplace charging scheme which launched last year, was extended to include B&Bs and accommodation businesses such as self-catering holiday lets. This means you may be able to qualify for up to £350 grant funding to help with the installation costs of your chargepoint. We handle all of the paperwork for you as an authorised installer.
What are the benefits of adding a chargepoint to a holiday let?
- Appeal to the growing number of Electric Vehicle owners who are looking for a hassle-free stay with easy access to charge up their vehicle
- Provide an added service, especially if you’re in a rural location
- Showcase your eco-conscious values and strive for greener living
- Create a competitive advantage over other holiday lets in the area
- Unlock potential for return on your investment with the option to charge additional fees for use of the chargepoint
Things to consider
- Check whether you have enough electrical capacity. By emailing us pictures of your fuse/distribution board we’ll be able to advise you whether your system is sufficient for the various types of chargers available.
- Decide where would be best for the chargepoint to be installed. The driveway, car port or garage are the most common places for installation. We’d need to be able to connect it safely to the mains electricity supply and so will usually install onto a wall or if this is not available, there are options for post mounting.
- Confirm the speed of your charger. Electric car charge points are available in different power outputs, the higher the output the faster the charge. Slow chargepoints are often the cheapest to use and are best suited to overnight charging, delivering a maximum of around 3.7 kW. Fast chargepoints are usually 7 kW and will cut down the time needed to charge an average car to between 3-7 hours.
- Check the Wifi signal strength. Smart charging points are now a legal requirement and so you need to ensure there is sufficient internet connectivity at the location of your installation either via wifi or a 4G connection.
- Choose a tethered or untethered product. A socketed chargepoint (unteathered) is the most versatile as it will be compatible with all plug-in electric vehicles making it ideal for a holiday let. You’ll just need to inform guests that they’ll need to bring their own separate cable when visiting.
A tethered charger comes with a cable attached so it’s easy to use and so popular with guests. Most newly manufactured cars have the Type 2 connector so your tethered station should be compatible with the majority of guests’ cars.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
The electricity costs will vary depending on the size of vehicle and your energy tariffs so we recommend property owners work out an approximate value of what the use of a chargepoint will add to the utility bill. You can decide whether to add a surcharge to your rental cost or incorporate the cost into your fees.
To put that into context, the largest battery car is currently the Tesla Model S 100d and this will take 100 kW to fully charge. A smaller battery such as the one in a Nissan Leaf will take 40 kW. On average, a typical electric car will likely have a battery size in the region of 60 kW.
Several energy companies offer EV energy tariffs and so it’s worth finding the best deals and using a smart meter to monitor your electricity usage.
New smart charge points conform to the government’s regulations including default off-peak charging so that may also help control your utility costs.
Want to learn more about adding an EV charger to your holiday let? Get in touch.
