EV charging at your holiday home

According to statistics provided by Autotrader, 16% of all cars registered in the UK are now electric, which equates to two million electric vehicles in the UK. A modern EV’s range is now between 150 and 350 miles. As battery technology develops and popularity grows, this number is continually improving, for example The Tesla Model S Long Range now extends to 405 miles.

Due to the ever-present issues of climate change and the ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles from 2030, the number of guests travelling in an electric vehicle is undoubtably going to rise significantly over the next 5 years and beyond.

EV charging for holiday lets

As electric cars become increasingly popular, holidaymakers are beginning to expect to be able to charge their car whilst staying at their holiday home, especially in higher end properties in more remote locations.

Most EV owners will use apps to indicate where available charge points are in relation to a holiday destination they are looking into, so by installing one a prospective guest will see your property ahead of others. This means that by including a charger at your property it doesn’t just help with visibility on the Beach Retreats site alone (we have a filter available to highlight properties that have EV chargers). Add in the social and environmental reasons for including one, and you can see why adding an EV charger can be a great selling point for a holiday home.

Installation costs

To help aid the decision process we have researched a couple of examples of companies that can install chargers in the Southwest:

Mr Charger

They offer a variety of chargers, but for holiday lets, they have spent time carefully curating a small selection that they endorse based on individual customer needs. This could be the charging software or those that have the strongest connectivity options, like 4G or Wi-Fi.

Their standard installation fee is between £1100-£1300, covering the charge point, parts, labour, and up to ten meters of cable clipped directly to the wall. They offer complimentary site surveys and quotes, and their services extends throughout Cornwall.

Voltshare

For an individual property on a domestic supply, they recommend a 7kw EV charger.

The example they gave the unit cost was £600 with the installation cost between £800-£1500 depending on the age and distance of wiring required. So together on average they suggested £1500 – £3000 investment.

On the example model there is no subscription or other fees, VoltShare charge 15% on each transaction on whatever rate is set. Owners are free to set their own prices – e.g. if you’re electricity rate is approx. 43p, you can set the EV charger rate to 66p. This can be changed as often as you like. The rate the guest pays is clearly displayed on the digital screen on the unit.

Drivers pay on the VoltShare App or Appless with a QR code on the unit. They also provide VoltShare signage to be displayed by each unit giving operating instructions. There is a 24hour support line number for drivers to call if they have any issues.

Funding

The OZEV grant is currently £350 for small accommodation towards the installation cost however this is likely to expire or decrease from April 2025 so now is the time to take advantage. The voucher-based scheme provides a contribution towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of the EV charger.

EV ownership and the need to charge whilst on holiday is only going one way, so now is a good time to get ahead of the wave before this becomes the norm. By adding a EV charger now you can take advantage of the government grant, help your property standout above others in your area and contribute towards a cleaner environmental future – not a bad way to start 2025.