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How EV Charging Charges Your Hotel’s Sustainability Program

Posted 04/16/2024

Hotels and resorts are always looking for ways to be more sustainable. In hospitality, sustainability involves actively implementing eco-friendly practices such as reducing waste, conserving energy and water, sourcing local and organic products, and adopting responsible tourism practices. It’s crucial for hotels and other hospitality businesses to prioritize sustainability efforts, given their substantial contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from energy consumption, transportation, and waste generation. Integrating EV charging, especially powered by renewable energy sources, can significantly reduce emissions from travel and bolster sustainability efforts within the industry.

Benefits of sustainability in hospitality

Embracing sustainability in the hospitality industry offers numerous advantages, including the ability to attract more guests. According to a 2023 survey by Booking.com, 76% of respondents expressed a desire for more sustainable travel experiences.

However, attracting more customers is not the only benefit of implementing sustainable practices. United States federal, state, and some local governments offer programs to promote sustainability within the hospitality industry.

By adopting sustainable practices, your business can access benefits such as tax breaks, insurance discounts, grants and other funding, and expedited permitting processes. Moreover, using environmentally friendly technology can lead to long- term savings. While there may be upfront costs, these investments can yield significant savings in the future.

Sustainability strategies

Similar to numerous other industries, hotels, resorts, and other businesses in the hospitality sector are progressively embracing sustainability strategies aimed at integrating eco-friendly practices across their operations. These strategies encompass initiatives such as reducing water consumption by utilizing water saving toilets and showers, implementing recycling programs, and installing EV charging stations.

By implementing a sustainability strategy, your hotel or hospitality business can effectively reduce its carbon footprint, contributing to a greener future for everyone.

The next step in sustainability

For hotels and resorts, installing electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) represents the next logical step in their sustainability journey. Installing hotel EV chargers is a tangible way to demonstrate a business’s dedication to sustainability.

These installations may earn certification points with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or help obtain other types of sustainability certifications.

Additionally, EV networks, like the Blink Network, provide the ability to generate environmental reports the amount of liquid fuel and crude oil saved, translating into reduced greenhouse gas emissions. These reports can be shared with stakeholders to illustrate how EV chargers contribute to the overall sustainability strategy of your business.

Which EV chargers should hotels install? 

Hotels can benefit from Level 2 and DC fast charging.

Level 2

Level 2 (L2) chargers, such as the Blink Series 8 Level 2 EV Charging Station, must be hardwired into a hotel’s electrical system and have the capability to charge a vehicle overnight, depending on factors like amperage and vehicle type. They are particularly suitable for hotels, as guests can charge their vehicles while they sleep.

Hotels have flexible options for managing chargers: they can assign a charger to a specific room, offer it as part of a package for drivers, or keep it separate from rooms for general use. Additionally, chargers can be reserved for valet usage or made available to the public.

Using the Blink Network, you can create user groups and set different pricing for charging. This allows for tailored pricing strategies, such as offering different rates for guests, taxis, rideshare vehicles, and the public.

Shifting charging to off-peak hours

With the Blink Network, hotel managers can adjust prices based on different times of the day. Guests using L2 chargers typically charge overnight when electricity rates are lower during off-peak hours, which often include evenings, weekends, and holidays. It's essential to check with your local electricity provider to determine their specific peak and off-peak hours.

Encouraging drivers to charge during off-peak hours can help alleviate stress on the electrical grid. By offering a higher fee for charging during peak hours, you incentivize drivers to charge at times when demand on the grid is lower. This is beneficial to the grid’s stability.

Off-peak energy rates are usually between 11pm and 7am. Source: US Energy Information Administration

Direct Current Fast Chargers

Installing a Direct Current Fast Charger (DCFC), like the Blink Series 9 30kW DC Fast Charging Station, can offer significant benefits for charging a hotel shuttle fleet. DCFCs can fully charge a vehicle in under an hour, making them ideal for EVs that require quick turnaround times. Additionally, you can also make the charger available to both hotel guests and the public, allowing you to collect a premium fee for usage.

Load management can reduce costs

Hotels may require dozens or even hundreds of Level 2 chargers to accommodate their fleet. Local load management becomes crucial in such scenarios. This feature enables multiple chargers to be connected to one electrical circuit, effectively splitting the available power among them. For instance, if one charger is in use, it receives 100% of the power, while if two chargers are in use, each receives 50%, and so forth. This software feature helps hotels optimize their charging infrastructure and reduce operating costs.

Getting help with your hotel EV charging installation

The federal government offers various funding programs for EVSE installation, while state and municipal governments, and utility providers also frequently provide funding opportunities for EVSE infrastructure. You can explore these options using Blink’s Commercial Incentives Finder. For hotels situated near highways, you may qualify for NEVI funding, especially with the growing number of EV drivers seeking accommodations with charging stations.

Blink Charging assists you in securing funding, planning your electrification strategy to minimize costs, and connecting you with certified EVSE installation specialists to ensure proper installation.

Conclusion

Installing EV chargers is an excellent strategy for hotels aiming to enhance their sustainability efforts. As guests increasingly prioritize sustainable travel, having EV charging stations in place showcases a hotel’s commitment to sustainability. Contact Blink Charging today to speak with an EV charging expert about elevating your establishment as a sustainable destination for EV drivers.

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