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The market for electric vehicles in France is booming. Throughout 2021 (up to October), approximately 17.8% of vehicles sold in France were electric and hybrid vehicles, which is up by 33% compared to the same period in 2020 (source: Avere – monthly barometer).

In Europe, the global fleet of electrified passenger vehicles now stands at 4.1 million units, twice as many as in 2019 (according to BNEF).

The presence of a charging point at a hotel or restaurant is therefore a key criterion of choice for customers driving electrical vehicles.

As a hotel or restaurant owner, the issue is not so much whether you will install electric vehicle charging stations, but rather when you will install them.

Identify your customers’ needs

The first question to ask is: what kind of charging service are my customers looking for?

If your customers need fast charging, Zephyre‘s teams will probably suggest DC charging stations. However, it will be necessary to check that the electrical panel can provide the right level of current to the charging solutions.

Please note that not all cars are compatible with any type of charging station. The most common charging solutions are AC charging stations, whose intensity varies from 3.7 kW to 22 kW. AC terminals have lower production, installation and operating costs.

Installing one or two wallboxes is the best solution for a small facility. However, this is still not enough for a very large hotel or restaurant.

The kind of station to be installed depends on several factors: the size of the facility, the layout of its car park, its electrical system and also its standard and type of clientele.

For a restaurant, where customers stay for a few hours, a fast-charging station can be a really interesting option.

For a hotel, guests normally stay at least one night, so a standard wallbox station may be enough.

Apart from the needs of your customers, you will also have to think about what you want to put in place:

• Will the stations be freely accessible to everyone or reserved to hotel guests?
• Will the charging service be invoiced to customers?

Consider anticipating your future needs in terms of charging stations at the time of installation. The market for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles will grow and your charging facility will inevitably evolve.

Make charging stations visible on an app

To attract customers who don’t know you, showcase your hotel or restaurant on interactive maps. It is essential to ensure the stations are visible on an app showing their location. You will attract customers who would never have thought of coming to your facility for an overnight stay or dinner. You will generate additional income that will quickly pay for the cost of the charging facility. Your investment will usually pay for itself within 6 to 12 months (depending on the cost of the charging facility).

The installation of electric charging stations is a real development opportunity for a hotel. This enables you to offer a new service to customers and to stand out from the competition.

Find out more about Zephyre’s services to install charging stations in hotels

Zephyre is a company specialising in the installation of charging stations for electric vehicles. It provides you with support for your project from start to finish, from defining your needs to the commissioning stage. Zephyre offers you a turnkey solution that also handles invoicing for the charging service. Zephyre’s technicians have the required IRVE qualification for charging facilities and will take care of your ADVENIR subsidy to reduce the cost of your facility.

Please get in touch with your Relationship Manager to find out more.