Electric vehicle charging point guidance for holiday let owners

Last Updated on November 28, 2016 by admin

How many of your guests reach your holiday cottage by car? Bet you’ve got somewhere for them to park haven’t you? For years we’ve been welcoming guests in their diesel and petrol cars and providing them with somewhere to pull up. So how long until we’re also providing an electric vehicle charging point for their new electric car?

Electric vehicles, commonly known as EVs

Electric vehicles, commonly known as EVs, are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, so installing an EV charging point at your holiday home might not be as far off as you think.

By October 2016 there were over 75,000 new EVs registered in the UK. The first half of 2016 saw sales increase by more than 30% from the same period in 2015. In short, the popularity of electric vehicles is only going up.

EVs work by using energy stored in rechargeable batteries and typically have a range of up to 100 miles, with more advanced models going further. Once they’ve done the distance, owners need to plug their car in and charge the batteries up. There are currently around 11,900 charge points in the UK (and this number is growing), so there may be a charging point near your holiday home they could use.

However, this isn’t always convenient as charging can take a while. An overnight charge on a private driveway is always going to be the first choice for any discerning EV owner.

Installing an electric vehicle charging point will attract more guests

Guests with electric vehicles are more inclined to book with a holiday let that has a charging point. A quick Google search will show you that many holiday homes are already doing it. There’re many eco-conscious guests that you could be missing out on, particularly if you’re in a rural location without a local charging point.

The charging points themselves can be freestanding or mounted on a wall or post. There are other options such as one or two sockets, and different charging speeds. Whilst EVs do have a standard plug, it is very important that an extension line hanging out of the kitchen window isn’t used! Charging points must be installed by a professional, certified installer to ensure that it is safe and suitable for use.

There are also different payment options available, so you can decide whether you want guests with EVs to pay per charge, or whether to have the charging point as a cost inclusive facility. We recommend talking to an EV charge point specialist to decide the best option for you and your guests.

Before any installation goes ahead, you will need to inform your insurance provider of your plans. As long as you’re using a certified installer and approved charging products, there should be no problems with your insurance. Informing them before you install the charger means that your policy can be appropriately amended. Installing an electric vehicle charging point without notifying your insurer could leave you without cover should anything go wrong.

Boshers offer specialist holiday home insurance to owners across the UK. For more information on how a specialist insurer can help and support your holiday home business, please give us a call on 01237 429444.