Electric Vehicle charger for a hotel

nickhampson

Hi, bit of advice please.......

I have just ordered an electric car and am about to order a charger pending its arrival. We live in a hotel and I was going to set it separate just for personal use.

Someone has suggested that I should actually put it in a public place for guest use as chargers are thin on the ground locally so not only would it be a useful facility but may attract more business.

While I think this is a good idea I do have some concerns:

• How can I set it so that I "authorise" use (I don't want us to become a free car park and deprive guests of spaces)?
• Can I set a fee for the electricity used (profits are tight especially in the current climate and £5-10 of electricity used by a room stops it being worthwhile, given the lack of chargers around I could see there being a lot of power used)
• How can I tell what electricty has been used? Would an app bill them direct or would I have to add to the invoice?
• Whats to stop people just coming up and plugging in?

I see there are apps but no one seems to say which charge points they work with and how much control you have.

Thanks in advance

Herzlos

Just for clarity, you are running a hotel and want to add a charger, or you're a long term guest who wants to add a charger?

If you're a business, then there will be plenty of vendors will install and run a charger site for you. I don't know if you'd get a special deal on your own use or any kick-back though.

neilmcl

Sounds like you need a couple of charging points, one exclusively for private use and one for guests, otherwise how are you going to guarantee you'll get use of it when you want/need it. You can hardly kick one of your guests off it when you want to use it, well you can but it wouldn't be good for business.

Also as above, can you be clearer, you say you "live" in a hotel, does this mean you run a hotel?

nickhampson

We run the hotel. My mileage is minimal so will only need a few hours a week. We are also seasonal and it looks like the big guys wont be interested.

Just wondered if there was a simple way to install one and set up so guests could charge but pay the electric.

If its not feasible will just go back to personal only, just thought it a nice to have really 

user1977

Presumably you can find out what other hotels have (e.g. there's one round the corner from me with a charger or two in their car park) and investigate from there?

nickhampson

The nearest has it in a physical locked box and charges a flat fee addition for use

I wont name names but it has been slated as people have paid and then they arent there at a time to suit to charge

born_again

Seasonal or not. It should increase customers. Might even mean some off season bookings.

https://chargebase.co.uk/workplaces/hotels

DrEskimo

You could try something through an App, like Plugshare.

Or this set up from Co Charger will probably be able to handle all the payment and usage side of things:

https://co-charger.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHWhBDgjp1k&t=7s&ab_channel=FullyChargedPlus

nickhampson

born_again said:

Seasonal or not. It should increase customers. Might even mean some off season bookings.

https://chargebase.co.uk/workplaces/hotels

We close 5 months of the year so arent available for off season bookings

nickhampson

DrEskimo said:

You could try something through an App, like Plugshare.

Or this set up from Co Charger will probably be able to handle all the payment and usage side of things:

https://co-charger.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHWhBDgjp1k&t=7s&ab_channel=FullyChargedPlus

I have sent them a couple of messages but had no reply. That seemed ideal to me but it seems i may not be a fit for them???

DrEskimo

nickhampson said:

DrEskimo said:

You could try something through an App, like Plugshare.

Or this set up from Co Charger will probably be able to handle all the payment and usage side of things:

https://co-charger.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHWhBDgjp1k&t=7s&ab_channel=FullyChargedPlus

I have sent them a couple of messages but had no reply. That seemed ideal to me but it seems i may not be a fit for them???

What exactly did you contact them about? Seems all pretty clear from the website? I'm guessing you would just advertise the fact you have EV charging available to your prospective guests and tell them to download the app if they wish to use it.