A Guide to Electric Vehicle Charging at Your Holiday Cottage

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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.

This inevitably means that a proportion of guests will travel to a holiday let in an EV or hybrid car. There’s a huge demand for holiday home owners to offer guests the facility to charge their car whilst on holiday.

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’ll look at the benefits of having an EV charging point, the risks and how much they cost to install and run.

The benefits of offering an electric vehicle charging point at your holiday cottage

There are several reasons to invest in an EV charging device for your holiday let.

It will attract more bookings

It’s reasonable to assume that potential guests who own EVs are more likely to book a holiday let that includes a charging point. In fact, ‘ev charging’ is among the most searched for filter by travellers on listing sites.

EV drivers are also ‘connected’ 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’t 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.

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.

It’s more convenient for your guests

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

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 ‘range anxiety’ if guests fear they are going to run out of battery before they get to a charger. Not a great start to a holiday.

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.

Your competitors already offer a charging point

There’s 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.

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.

Charging points at holiday lets will eventually be ‘the norm’

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.

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 ‘as standard’.

You’ll be positively contributing toward a greener planet

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.

Whether you’re already an eco-conscious holiday let owner or not, there’s no denying that now is the time for us all to ‘do our bit’ towards saving the environment.

How much does an EV charging device cost to buy and install?

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. Typically, a 7kW charging unit will cost between £800 – £1500. It 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.

How much does it cost to charge an EV?

EVs use power that’s 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.

The average cost incurred for fully charging an EV will vary, depending on the charging point’s 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 £13.00 for a full charge.

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).

Should you charge guests to charge their EV at your holiday let?

When deciding whether to charge, it’s 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.

A large group with several EVs paying £300 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 £20 for EV charging who is paying £2000 to stay at your cottage could be considered ‘penny-pinching’.

You could factor EV charging costs into your rental rates. Increasing your rates by £20 per week may cover the cost depending on your tariff and the battery size of the typical guests’ car. Alternatively, offer it as an option on your booking form (as some hosts do for dogs) and charge a fee.

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 – like the “pay at the pump” option at fuel stations.

Considerations when installing an EV charging point 

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:

• Do you have sufficient power to support EV charging?
• You have off-street parking available
• You have a strong Wi-Fi signal at your property or a mobile signal so the unit can charge guests via an app.

Charging point options – you’ll need to decide:

• 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
• Will you have tethered or un-tethered charge points
• 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.).

Installation for the charging point can be done through either your energy supplier or a specialist company, that is a certified professional.

Electric vehicle charging risks

Fire risks

Most electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are supplied with a domestic charger (commonly referred to as a ‘granny charger’). These charge the EV using a domestic power source via a 3-pin wall socket.

There are several potential fire risks when using a domestic charger:

• As the charging process takes hours, leaving an EV on charge overnight or whilst they are out for the day is always going to be most convenient for holiday home guests. When guests leave a vehicle to charge unattended, there is no one around to spot malfunctions during charging.
• Often the lead supplied with a granny charger is not long enough to reach a socket, so an extension lead or multiple extension leads are used. Due to safety risks, manufacturers recommend that extension leads are not used to charge EVs – but people do.
• Charging units left outside are often exposed to extreme weather conditions such as heat/cold and rain.
• Over time charging cables could become damaged, which may expose live copper wiring.
• Old wiring at holiday cottages might not be able to cope with the demand of charging an EV.

Liability risks

When charging cables are plugged in, cables tend to be trailed across pedestrian walkways and access points, creating a trip hazard and potential injuries.

Also, there’s a risk of electric shock if cables and charging units are used in the rain.

Health and safety

One of the leading causes of fires in the UK is faulty electrical equipment and their leads.

It’s essential that your charging point is installed by a professional, certified installer, and is maintained and inspected in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Failure to do this can mean that you’re putting your holiday home and guests at risk.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires that all electrical systems shall be of such design, construction and installation as to prevent danger.

A really helpful resource to read regarding EV charging point health and safety guidance is RISC Authority’s RC59 Fire safety when charging electric vehicles document.

If you have an EV charge point it should form part of your property risk assessment, with all the correct safety features put in place. Guests should also have clear instructions on how to safely use the charger.

Make your EV charging rules clear to your guests

Your booking terms and conditions are key to managing and mitigating the risks associated with electric vehicle charging at your holiday cottage.

Your terms and conditions and house rules should explicitly forbid the charging of EVs via a domestic charger (commonly known as a ‘granny charger’) at the property. You should also forbid the charging of e-scooters and e-bikes at your property. Make your guests agree to your T&Cs before the booking is confirmed and repeat them in your guestbook.

Your guests should also be aware of whether you have a tethered or untethered charge point so they bring the right cable with them. Also, if you don’t provide a charger, make sure your guests know the location of local charging points that they can use.

What are the insurance implications?

There are fire and liability risks when using electric vehicle chargers, which could lead to significant loss, damage and injury. Before you install a charging device, speak to your insurer with regards to EV charging at your holiday home and how this affects your cover.

Typically, insurance companies will not cover guests using a domestic (granny) charger.

To summarise

Installing an EV charging point at your holiday let can be a useful USP for attracting business. However, if installing an EV charging point isn’t possible or you’ve decided you don’t want the added expense or hassle, make sure your guests know the location of local charging points.