Everything you need to know about EV Charging for Businesses - Hotel & Spa Edition

What are the benefits of EV charging for businesses?

It’s no wonder that the number of public charge points for electric cars rose by 37 percent in 2021 due to the many benefits that installation brings to your business.

Habitual use

Through the installation of electric car charging points for business, whether a hotel or another leisure sector-based business, your premises can become a destination for regular charge use. EV users will habitually return to your business thanks to the facilities you have available. Hotels with EV charging will ultimately see an increase in occupancy rates as well as an increase in the time spent at the premises by existing guests!

Online visibility

Increase the visibility of your hospitality or leisure business online - Google Maps and apps like Zap-Map allows users to locate nearby EV charging stations by category. By appearing in these results, hotels with EV charging will definitely gain more traffic to their doors.

Customer satisfaction and beat competition

By providing such modern and eco-friendly charging infrastructure, you will delight your EV-driving customers and possibly even extend the length of their stay now they can easily charge their vehicle. As well as this, the leisure industry is competitive - it’s always a good idea to get ahead of the curve with the newest tech.

Revenue generation

Depending on your plans for your business following EV charging station installation, it is possible to charge a fee for the use of your charging facilities. Whether you want to simply recover the cost of the electricity used or you aim to make a profit, EV charging stations for business are a great way to do it. Selling advertising space on and around your charge points is also an additional innovative way to generate revenue.

Eco initiative and the power of data

Of course, it should be any commercial business’ goal to play their part in reducing their carbon footprint. With particular EV charging stations, you are able to collect data about charge point use and the users’ dwelling time at the hotel. With this data, you are able to generate reports that illustrate the eco-focused business model at the core of your company - which could potentially be a great PR opportunity.

‘Fit and forget’

Part of the beauty of EV charging station installation for businesses is that you can simply fit and forget. Following the installation process, your installer will deal with the aftercare and maintenance of your new facilities. You don’t have to worry about anything else - leaving you with more time to focus on enhancing the guest experience.

Whether you’re looking for more information on commercial EV charger installation and services, or have a query about how we work, our experts are here to help. Start the process for a free site survey & EV support today!

What EV chargers are available on the market - and which is right for my business?

The type of charging station necessary for your business will depend on the type of electric vehicle and the type of socket it has been fitted with. Different types of connectors are designed for different electric vehicles and charge EVs at different speeds -  it can be confusing to distinguish between them all and realise the one that is required for your premises.

Similar to a cable you use to charge your phone, an EV charger consists of a plug that connects to the charging point and a plug that connects to the vehicle.

• Sockets are either Type 1 or Type 2 - these are slow or fast charging (AC)
• For rapid charging (DC), EVs have either CHAdeMO or CCS connector. As of the 1st of January 2022, there were 28,375 public electric vehicle charging devices available in the UK - of this total, 5,156 were rapid chargers.

Type 1:

• 5 pins
• The standard type of charger in the USA
• Can only carry single-phase power

Type 2:

• 7 pins
• The most common type of charger
• Can carry three-phase power

When selecting an EV charger for business, you will want to consider the needs of your guests, focusing on how each charger can optimise the guest experience. For instance, opting for slow EV chargers will be suitable for overnight charging, but fast or rapid charging will be preferred for those who are stopping by for a quick recharge - you may want to install both, if your budget allows.

You will also want to consider the space you have available on your premises. Wall-mounted EV chargers may be a preferred option over freestanding chargers depending on the size of your parking area, and you should take into account the accessibility of walkways.

EV charging for businesses: what will it cost?

Let's cut to the chase, you're here for costs. The full installation of a leading 7.3kw (slow) charger will start around £1,500 but to get an accurate cost, your EV charger installer needs more information. 

We can provide you with an accurate quote off the back of our free site survey.

The exact price of EV charging station installation will depend on a range of factors, starting with the type of hardware chosen, the installation specifications and the distance between the EV charging station and the electric meter on your premises. All of these factors will be outlined and explained by your EV charger installer, and advice on the best option for you will be provided.

The overall cost and outgoings shouldn’t be the only thing stopping you from taking the plunge and seeking a site quote for EV charging station installation for your business. If this is something that you’re wanting to find out more about, you’ll be happy to hear that there are grants and incentives available from the government that have been made available to encourage EV use across the country. What are these grants, what funds are available to you, and how can you access them?

What government grants are available for EV charging for businesses?

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has several government-funded grants available with the goal of motivating Britain to make the switch to electric vehicles. The EVHS (Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme) and Plug-in Car Grant (PICG) apply to individual drivers, but there is still financial support available for electric car charging points for businesses.

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS)

This scheme grants eligible businesses a discount towards the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints on their premises. This has been implemented by the government to encourage the adoption of EV charging stations across the country, in the hopes that electric vehicles will become the only type of vehicle on the roads by 2050.

Ran by OZEV, the grant offers applicants up to 75% of the total costs of EV charger installation - capped at £350 per socket.

Am I eligible?

Detailed on the government’s website, to be eligible you must;

• be a registered business, charity, or public sector organisation
• be a public authority
• have received – or have currently pending at the time of application – less than €200,000/£160,000 of public support in the last 3 financial years
• declare a need for EV charging equipment, or an intent to encourage uptake among their staff and/or fleet
• be located in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland
• have dedicated off-street parking for staff and/or fleet use only
• own the property or have consent from the landlord for charge points to be installed at the sites listed in your application

How do I access these grants?

Here at Devitech, we can provide you with support in accessing and applying for these government grants - so that you can get the best deal possible to electrify your hotel or bed and breakfast.

Mark Callaghan, our lead EV engineer, is available to support your application process and beyond. Book a session with Mark directly here. Alternatively, get in contact with us at 01732 762338 or email us at web@darcy.co.uk.

What profit can I make from installing chargers?

EV charging for businesses can be a profitable endeavour. This is true on two levels.

Firstly, hotels and leisure facilities hurry to ensure that they are ready for the increasing number of electric vehicles hitting the road. This presents an opportunity to stand out from the competition and increase your occupancy rates (generally with high-worth individuals) because you can offer EV charging.

Secondly, you can EV charging into a new revenue stream. Whether you choose to meter the electricity by adding a fee per KW used or whether you add a premium to your hotel room fee and guarantee charging availability to certain guests.

Additionally, there is the ability to build in different pricing models to account for both guests, staff and misc. You may want to make a profit on guests in your establishment but you may want to let staff access the chargers without a markup. This is particularly important as energy costs continue to increase.

What commercial EV regulations do I have to abide by?

As of the 30th of June 2022, the government will implement new EV charging requirements as part of their review of the Building Regulations. To further encourage the transition to electric vehicles, all new build non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces are required to have a minimum of one chargepoint, as well as cable routes for 20% of the total number of charging spaces. 

These regulations are also extended to hotels and other businesses that are undergoing any significant renovations that will have more than 10 parking spaces. Due to this legislation, an additional 145,000 charging points are to be installed.

As well as these regulations, June 2022 will also bring the introduction of The Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021.

Of course, the threat of operational complexities and unwanted additional costs will panic any property manager. However, advice and guidance is available through all high calibre EV charging point installers.

Ready to find out more about EV charger funding? Check out our 'Complete Guide to Commercial EV Funding' here!

How do I select an EV charging point installer?

The UK government have compiled a list of authorised installers for the Workplace Charging Scheme - so that you can see which EV charger providers qualify for government incentives. The market is packed with EV installers, but it’s important to select one that is right for you and your business’ EV charging needs.

The main features you need to look for in an EV installer include, but are not limited to;

• Cost;
• Whether they supply the right chargers for you;
• Customisability; is it possible to personalise your chargers with company colours?
• The time it takes to install; how quick is the turnaround from first contact to a fully-functioning EV station?
• Quality of installation; 
• After-sales support; do they offer you continued support and maintenance?

Here at Devitech, we offer nationwide installer coverage with highly accredited EV installers providing aftercare services such as support, maintenance, commissioning when required.

How to get started with EV Charging for Businesses: what to expect

• Outline the process from start to finish - introduce the idea of grants and Devitech being able to support
• Set your goals - how many stations would you need? Or do you have a specific green goal (emissions)?
• Map out costs and budget - unit cost, installation costs, maintenance costs, are you charging customers? Contracts/purchase options
• Assess your site
• How long does installation take?
• What’s the after-sales process/service like?
• Is any further maintenance/check-up required?

Take your first steps towards future-proofing your hotel with our free EV site survey. Our survey helps assess the scope of the project, helps us advise on the best units for your hotel and support you with EV funding applications such as WPS.

Frequently asked questions

How reliable are EVs? 

Electric vehicles are usually very reliable – this is partly due to them having fewer moving parts and components compared to a diesel/petrol car. In the case that a breakdown or fault does occur, you will need to contact an EV specialist.

What’s the lifespan of an EV charger?

Despite many manufacturers often offering a 5-8 year warranty on their EV batteries, the current prediction from EDF energy is that an EV battery will last up to two decades before they need to be replaced.

Will EVs eventually become outdated?

Just like iPhones, all technology will eventually become obsolete. However, the reign of the electric vehicle is just beginning!

Are EV chargers universal? I.e., do they fit every vehicle type?

There aren’t a huge variety of EV chargers available on the market. However, EV charger plugs will differ depending on location and manufacturer.

My EV charging cable is stuck. What do I do?

Press the gun firmly into the charger to release the pin and press the unlock button in the app. For this feature to work, please ensure your charger is up to date with the latest version of firmware.

My charger is shown as unavailable. Why?

Is your unit successfully connected to the internet? For a step by step on how to get connected, check out this tutorial.

Why is my charger flashing red?

Please check that your charger’s emergency button hasn’t been pressed in – if it has, twist clockwise and the button will flick out.

Why does my charger show as ‘suspended EVSE’?

Again, please check that the emergency button hasn’t been pressed, it will show this message if your car is fully charged and the charger is connected.

Reserved Charging does not work?
Please ensure that you are on the latest firmware version and that the charging mode is in-app and then try again.

My charger won’t charge fast enough?
The solar function may be activated, meaning it will charge at 8A rather than the full 32A – turn solar mode off and this should be resolved.

My charger won’t connect to my WiFi router. Why?

Please make sure it is a good distance from the charger (8-10m), and that is a stable connection. Also, check if it’s on a 2.4GHz frequency – our chargers will not connect to a 5ghz frequency. One way to overcome this is by connecting via ethernet.

I think my charger is dead – there’s no power!
Please check the RCD on the side of the charger unit. If you reset the RCD, your charger will come back on.

Hotspot connection password shows as incorrect

You need to connect the charger to your laptop via an attachment cable. Once done, you then enter the parameter settings. You will then have the option to change the authentication key – change this back to 12345678  and you should be good to go.

Why does my charger show as unavailable but still charges my car?

This may be because you have the charger in ‘plug & charge mode’. In this mode, the charger works simply but will not communicate with the app. If you want to control and monitor charging via the app, then please change the charging mode to ‘app mode’.

On in-app mode it’s showing as unavailable – why?

Please check that your internet connection is stable and that the server URL is correct, if you enter a 3rd party’s URL, then it won’t work with our app.

I’ve reset the RCD but the charger still doesn’t work. What now?

Please check the trip at the mains where the unit is fed from, if this has tripped then it will need resetting for the EV charger to work.

The RCD switch in the charger is tripping – what do I do?

Unscrew the cover plate on the side of the charger and reset the RCD on the side of the unit.

Why can’t I add the serial number of the charger into the app?

This could be because the serial number has been added to another account. It needs to be unbound before it can be added again. You can do this by deleting it from the other account or give us a call on 01283 249608 and we will unbind it for you!

The yellow light of the charging post keeps flashing and restarting, why?

Completing a software update can often solve this problem.

My WiFi username and password are longer than 16 characters, or my WiFi password is showing as incorrect – why?

If you connect the charger to a laptop via an ethernet cable and enter the parameter settings, you won’t have a 16 character limit.

‘FAULT’ or ‘OVERVOLTAGE’ is showing on my charger. What does this mean? 

If you see this message and have a charger with a serial number starting with FND, then please contact us immediately.

My charging record displays an inaccurate charging time. What do I do?

If your charge point time is inaccurate, ensure that the timezone is set to the UK on your settings.

Why is my charger beeping?

This may be due to a fault of the start/stop button located on the right-hand side of the unit.

Is there a reason why the charge point can’t connect to the WiFi or will not update?

This could be due to your WiFi connection being unstable or weak, check your router! 

My charging point is showing ‘online’ when it’s powered off. How do I resolve this?

Simply refresh your app – this can take 2-3 minutes.