Do you drive an EV? Have you rented one to try out during vacation? Then you already know how necessary it is to find a home-away-from-home that offers EV charging. That means you need to be able to search for hotels, B&Bs, or even Airbnbs that include EV charging stations. Just this summer, Airbnb added “EV charger” as a filterable field when searching for accommodations. That means EV drivers are being encouraged to be particular when choosing where to spend their overnight stays. It also means that Airbnb hosts wanting to stay ahead of the competition better think about the long term.
WHY IS EV CHARGING REALLY NECESSARY?
Countries and manufacturers around the world are working to bring an end to gas-powered vehicles. A 2021 Pew Research study found that 39% of Americans are considering electric vehicles for their next car. California, the US leader in electrified vehicles, saw EVs as nearly 11% of the market in the first quarter of 2021. The state has mandated that all new vehicles sold there in 2035 and beyond must be zero-emission. As time goes on, more and more drivers are seeing EV charging as a necessity, not an amenity.
Overnight charging at small establishments, such as a B&B or an Airbnb, is vital to EV drivers. While many will plot their routes around fast-charging stations, most EV drivers rely on overnight charging to bring vehicles back to 100% for the next day. Offering such an option is nice for the moment, but it will soon be imperative. What’s more, it’s not a stretch to assume that EV drivers will be more than happy to pay premiums for ensured charging access, even if it’s not free charging.
While it might seem natural for businesses to offer paid charging, Airbnb hosts must remember they are also business owners. They are welcome to offer charging as a perk or a free amenity by installing an unconnected charger on site. However, others may be interested in what it would take to install a smart AC charger. These level 2 chargers offer faster top-ups and the ability to charge users by time or by power usage.
CHARGING AT AN APARTMENT AIRBNB
Some apartment buildings already offer unassigned parking spots with EV charging. If yours doesn’t, however, it’s well worth requesting them. The benefits of offering EV charging help both residences and their tenants, a point well worth making. The installation of EV charging units increases property value and attracts tenants.
Building management companies might take one of a few routes when offering EV solutions. All of them are good for Airbnb hosts who want to provide EV charging.
- Add chargers to above-ground parking and make them available for anyone to use, resident or community member.
- Install a few charging stations at unassigned spots just for residents to use and pay for at their convenience.
- Deploy chargers for specific residents who request them and require the resident to cover the operational costs of the charger as well as pay for power used.
All of these options are good for a host looking to say that EV charging is available on site.
CHARGING AT A HOUSE AIRBNB
Two scenarios are common when offering charging at a private home. In the first, the homeowner has access to an unconnected EV charger. In the second, a smart charger is installed at the house. The charging duration required for these depends very much on the kind of charger installed and the car being charged.
UNCONNECTED CHARGER
This kind of home charging station, sometimes called a “dumb” charger, acts as an easy conduit between your home power source and your vehicle. Some are little more than converters that plug directly into the house outlets. Others mount on the wall, typically inside the garage or just outside it, giving the driver full access to charging.
This kind of EV charger assumes that the Airbnb host will not and does not wish to be able to charge someone else to use their power. On the one hand, they are easy to use and install. On the other hand, they mean that charging can only be offered as a free amenity. Keep an eye on your power bill and be ready to adjust your list pricing to reflect the fact that someone may use a lot more power than you had anticipated (particularly if they’re unexpectedly charging something big, like an RV, at your home).
SMART CHARGER
These connected chargers offer a range of choices when it comes to charging. If you often have rental guests at your Airbnb, such a station would allow you to charge the guests for their EV top-ups. An integrated online dashboard makes tracking usage easy, and payments process through mobile pay apps (such as Google Pay or Apple Pay) or credit cards. If it’s a Noodoe EV charger, guests won’t need to download an extra app or sign up for a charging membership, so it’s perfect for a temporary stay. Guests simply scan, pay, and charge up. The charger can even change between monetization and non-monetization modes. This way, you can offer free charging as an occasional perk or set your own pricing for it at other times.
THE BOTTOM LINE
EV charging is quickly becoming a deciding factor for many travelers. It’s important to not just keep up with but to stay ahead of the trend if hosts wish to remain competitive in the market. Offering free or even paid EV charging can be a huge boon for customers traveling by car or renting EVs to try them out while on vacation or business trips.