Monday, February 17, 2025
Monday, February 17, 2025
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Experts warn Hotels must keep with the EV transition, as new data reveals only 5% of Hotels in Scotland provide EV charging

 

  • Only 5% of hotels available with parking across Scotland’s cities offer EV charging to customers, according to new research from Drax Electric Vehicles.
  • Smaller cities lead in EV charger availability at hotels, with Dunfermline and Perth ranking above Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
  • Only 3% of hotels with parking in Edinburgh and Aberdeen offer EV charging.

New research finds that only 5% of Scottish city hotels offer customers access to chargers, revealing the top cities with hotels offering EV charging facilities.

Analysing over 15,000 hotels across 74 UK cities, Drax Electric Vehicles has uncovered a wide disparity in EV charging availability, with major cities failing to provide suitable charging infrastructure at their hotels.

Dunfermline ranked top for EV-friendly hotels in Scotland, with one in twelve (8%) providing EV charging facilities. It was followed by Dundee (5%), Glasgow (5%) and Inverness (5%).

While Glasgow sits in the top 3 positions, major cities like Edinburgh and Aberdeen have significantly lower availability than Dunfermline.

Commenting on the findings, Adam Hall, Director of Energy Services at Drax, said, “If Scottish hospitality businesses want to keep pace with the rapidly growing EV market, they must invest now to build a reputation for offering good EV charging facilities.”

“Investing in EV charging will quickly give these businesses a competitive advantage, attracting potential new customers and better serving their existing ones when they eventually make the switch. Hospitality venues provide the perfect location for EV drivers to top up when they’re not at home, as they already have a purpose and incentive for visiting.”

“Along with the customer benefits, EV charging also allows businesses to encourage customers to spend more during their visit, as drivers are likely to spend longer there to get more charge. This could be the difference between them grabbing an extra coffee and making an additional purchase decision. When combined with any profits made for charging, it’s easy to see the return on investment.”

How do all UK cities’ hotels compare?

St Davids in Wales ranked top for EV-friendly hotels, with over one in five (22%) providing EV charging facilities. It was followed by Milton Keynes (16%), Central London (15%) and St Albans (12%).

Adam shares, “We are seeing a record number of electric vehicles on our roads, with zero-emission vehicles accounting for 2.7 per cent of all cars in use in 2023. While uptake is often higher in major metropolitan cities like London, where policies such as the ULEZ incentivise EV ownership, our research shows a need for further development in charging infrastructure across many hotels.”

Despite having the largest number of hotels with parking, major cities like Birmingham, Manchester, and York still need to catch up in the proportion of hotels offering charging facilities compared to smaller cities. Only 1 in 25 (4%) Birmingham hotels offer this amenity.

The data reveals a need for big cities like Edinburgh to invest further in EV charging infrastructure. Hotels which invest in EV chargers are in an advantageous position, staying ahead of potential government requirements and avoiding future retrofit costs and disruptions.

Hotels with EV chargers also contribute to the electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) grid, offering the public more accessibility to charging points and promoting sustainability.

Naomi Nye, EV charging specialist at Drax Electric Vehicles, explains, “As EV adoption grows, hotels must focus on becoming more EV-friendly. Offering EV chargers is no longer a premium experience but a necessity.”

“These findings underline the growing importance of EV infrastructure in the hospitality industry to support the UK’s net-zero ambitions. This is a key area for growth and investment to attract more eco-conscious travellers.”

 

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