Why Does Your Hotel Need To Have An EV Charging Station Now
India has been aggressively seeing electric mobility as the future for making transportation cleaner and cost-effective in the long run. Looking at the strategic ownership cost of electric vehicles, people have started steering towards them from the traditional ICE-powered vehicles. The central and state governments have also been spearheading subsidies and initiatives to increase the demand for EVs. The demand for EVs has, surprisingly, surpassed expectations, hence shifting the demand towards the development of robust charging infrastructure across India, in a bid to make electric mobility sustainable and reliable.
Reportedly, a Grant Thornton Bharat-FICCI poll predicted that India would need 400,000 charging stations by 2026 to suffice the demand for 2mn electric vehicles on the road. According to Vahan 4 data as of date 25, India had a total of 10,76,420 EVs and a total of 1,742 Public Charging Stations (PCS), as per the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). This indicates the wide room available for the hospitality industry to plug into the supply of EV charging by installing charging stations on their premises.
For ages, people have been borrowing ideas from hotels to suit their desires in their households too. From installing the same smart TV that they enjoyed binge-watching during their previous visit to a hotel to sourcing handmade artifacts from the locals, which they witnessed in their hotel’s room. Similarly, a robust EV charging station sparks the thought that the hotel is equipped and way ahead to take care of their patrons and their belongings wholly.
The installation of EV charging stations furthermore perpetuates the hotel’s focus on the patrons’ wellbeing by providing them with compliant charging solutions instead of regular power plug points. It ensures proper care of the EV's electric mechanism from any surge or dips in power while charging. This feature lacks in a conventional AC power output plug point. Installing EV charging stations will furthermore ensure added cash flow for the hotel property, hence benefitting their bottom line.
The patrons too will be less hesitant while traveling to their favourite destinations without worrying about the range that their EVs provide given that the hotel properties that they visit will be equipped with the in-house charging stations.
Looking at the bigger picture, hotel owners should consider and increase service at all touchpoints of patrons to maximize their comfort at the hotel which will, in turn, elevate the hotel brand’s value proposition. A proven way to increase the brand value of the hotel is by investing in technology that leads to a significant decrease in carbon footprint. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) has not only become a hot topic of discussion globally, but investors have increasingly become conscious of their practices and their effect on the environment. A study found that around 90 percent of the Fortune 500 companies are working with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol to bring down emissions significantly.
Hoteliers have changed the narrative from being labeled as energy guzzlers to being torchbearers of sustainable practices for the guests' wellbeing. Having focused on renewable energy for running the hotel, it is now time for hoteliers to think beyond just rooms and make more and more services inclusive for the modern-day patron. Enabling their hotel asset/s with EV charging facilities will set them apart in the game of attracting businesses of various kinds from both resident and non-resident guests. For example, a guest staying at the hotel can charge their EV during their stay whereas a non-resident guest may be short on the range and just stop by the hotel to charge and explore the hotel’s restaurants or swimming pool while the EV charges.
The environment-conscious approach is certainly celebrated in the modern-day and has become the foundation for many businesses to thrive. It is the best time for hoteliers to put their hats in the ring by increasing EV charging infrastructure, hence creating a win-win situation for all stakeholders and the environment.
