Preparing Your Accommodation for EV and Hybrid Vehicles
The accommodation industry has always evolved alongside changing traveller behaviour.
We’ve seen it in recent years with the growth of pet friendly accommodation, more flexible stay options, and a stronger focus on experience led travel. Now, another shift is gaining momentum - the rise of electric vehicles (EVs).
Importantly, this shift isn’t limited to fully electric vehicles. Hybrid and plug in hybrid vehicles are already widely used across Australia - not just in cities, but increasingly for regional and longer distance travel. Their ability to combine electric driving with petrol range makes them particularly suited to areas where charging infrastructure is still developing. While offering flexibility, these vehicles still benefit from access to charging - reinforcing the role of accommodation operators within the travel planning and decision-making process.
The momentum is building quickly. Recent industry data shows that electric vehicles accounted for one in every six new vehicles sold in April, reflecting a significant shift in consumer purchasing behaviour. This growth sits alongside broader changes in how Australians are travelling - and what they expect from accommodation operators.
While vehicle adoption is accelerating, charging infrastructure has not expanded at the same pace across all regions. This creates a growing gap between how guests are travelling and what is available to support them - particularly outside major metropolitan areas.
For accommodation operators - including hotels, motels and caravan parks - this gap presents a clear opportunity. Properties that can offer reliable, safe charging are not just adding an amenity - they are solving a problem in the guest journey.
Why this matters for accommodation operators
Travellers driving electric and hybrid vehicles are planning their journeys differently.
Where traditional travellers focus on distance and travel time, EV and hybrid drivers are more likely to consider:
Charging availability along their route
Overnight charging opportunities
Properties that support their journey
This changes the role accommodation plays. In many cases, the ability to charge has become part of the decision-making process, not just an added amenity.
The opportunity for regional accommodation
Regional operators are uniquely positioned to benefit - particularly as EV and hybrid adoption begins to outpace charging infrastructure in many areas.
This creates a clear opportunity:
Properties offering charging can stand out
Overnight stays become part of the charging journey
Accommodation becomes a deliberate choice, not just a stopover
This is similar to the early growth of Wi Fi. Once considered a premium offering - and often charged separately - Wi Fi is now an expected amenity. In many cases, it is no longer even promoted, simply expected as part of the stay.
EV charging is at a similar point in its evolution:
Early adopters can use it as a point of difference
Over time, it is likely to become an expected part of the guest experience
In the short to medium term, this infrastructure gap creates a genuine point of difference. In many regional locations, properties offering EV charging are positioning themselves as a practical and preferred choice for a growing segment of travellers.
Preparing your property: practical considerations
Introducing EV charging doesn’t need to be complex, but it does require a structured and thoughtful approach.
Understanding charging types
Not all vehicles - or charging methods - are the same.
Common options include:
Standard power outlets (slow and often used informally)
AC destination chargers(Level 2) - the most practical for accommodation
DC fast chargers - faster, but higher cost and infrastructure requirements
Most accommodation operators begin with destination charging, allowing guests to recharge overnight.
While fully electric vehicles rely entirely on charging, plug in hybrids also benefit from access to power, particularly for shorter journeys and local exploration during a stay.
It’s also important to note that compatibility can vary. Some vehicles and charging systems may require adapters, and not all setups will suit every vehicle type. For operators, this reinforces the value of providing simple, well explained options for guests.
Managing charging safely
As more guests travel with electric and hybrid vehicles, informal charging is becoming more common - particularly where no formal infrastructure exists.
This might include:
Guests charging from room outlets
Extension cords running across shared walkways
Multiple vehicles drawing power simultaneously
These situations create real risks:
Trip hazards for other guests
Electrical overload or outages
Disruption to the overall guest experience
Hybrid and plug in hybrid guests are often more likely to attempt these ad hoc solutions if no structured option is available.
Providing designated charging areas, clear guidelines and managed access helps protect both your guests and your property.
Setting clear expectations
Operators can - and should - introduce simple policies to support safe usage.
For example:
Restrict or manage in-room charging
Avoid extension leads across shared spaces
Direct guests to designated charging areas
Provide clear instructions at check-in or in-room
Charging itself isn’t the issue - unmanaged charging is.
Should you charge for charging?
There is no single approach to EV charging, and most operators will evolve their strategy over time. In practice, how you position the service is often more important than whether you charge for it.
It’s also important to note that this isn’t about differentiating between guest types, but how the service is delivered.
1. Complimentary (positioned as a value-added extra)
EV charging is offered at no additional charge as a simple, guest-focused inclusion.
Easy to implement
Encourages early adoption
Positions your property as responsive to emerging traveller needs
This approach works particularly well when:
Usage is still low
You are testing demand
You want to attract EV and hybrid travellers
2. Included as part of the stay
Charging is positioned as part of the overall experience, rather than a separate or “free” add-on.
This may be reflected through:
A “Stay & Recharge” package
Inclusion within higher room categories if offering a variety of room types
A quiet adjustment of overall rate positioning to reflect added value
This approach allows operators to:
Integrate charging into the guest experience
Maintain a simple, seamless stay
Align pricing with the level of service being offered
This is similar to how Wi Fi evolved - moving from a charged extra to an expected, built-in part of the stay.
3. Paid usage
Introduction of a structured pricing model.
This may include:
A flat nightly fee
Per-hour charging
Per kWh usage
This approach helps:
Recover infrastructure and electricity costs
Manage demand where multiple vehicles are charging
Support scalability as adoption increases
4. A combined approach in practice
Some operators are already blending these approaches to balance guest experience and operational control. For example, offering complimentary charging via a dedicated EV charging point, while applying a nightly fee for guests charging from standard room outlets.
This type of model:
Encourages use of safe, designated infrastructure
Discourages informal or unsafe charging setups
Provides flexibility without overcomplicating the guest experience
As EV and hybrid travel grows, the goal isn’t to create different rates for different guests - it’s to ensure your property can support the journey in a way that is simple, safe and commercially sustainable.
Planning your setup
When introducing EV charging, consider:
Dedicated EV parking bays
Safe cable management
Clear signage and access
Proximity to rooms and shared spaces
Small, practical decisions can significantly improve usability and guest satisfaction.
Funding and partnership considerations
It’s also worth keeping an eye on available local, state and federal infrastructure grants, which may support the installation of EV charging solutions. These programs can help offset upfront costs and accelerate implementation.
At the same time, operators should carefully assess any co operative or network-based charging agreements. While these may provide funding or infrastructure support, they can sometimes limit flexibility - particularly around charger types, pricing models, or future adaptability as vehicle technology continues to evolve.
Starting small and scaling up
You don’t need to commit to large infrastructure immediately.
A staged approach works well:
Start with one or two charging points
Monitor demand and usage
Expand as required
With many guests already travelling in hybrid vehicles, even a single charging solution can deliver immediate value.
Turning infrastructure into a commercial advantage
Like any new service, EV charging only delivers value if guests know it’s available.
In many cases, particularly in regional areas, EV charging can become a clear property differentiator. Where public infrastructure is still catching up, accommodation becomes part of the solution.
Simple ways to promote your EV offering:
Include it in your website amenities and FAQs
Highlight it in OTA listings and room descriptions
Add it to your Google Business Profile
Include it in pre-arrival communication
Use it in targeted marketing content including social media, blogs and newsletters
These small updates ensure your investment translates into visibility, relevance and bookings.
Looking ahead
The shift in how vehicles are powered is already underway.
With electric vehicles accounting for a growing share of new car sales, and hybrid vehicles already widely in use, charging is no longer a future consideration - it’s a current one.
As adoption continues to accelerate, the imbalance between vehicle ownership and charging availability will become more visible - particularly in regional areas. For accommodation operators, this presents an opportunity not just to adapt, but to lead.
A practical next step
If you’re considering EV charging for your property, start by asking:
What are our guests already asking for?
What is happening on-site today?
What is a simple, safe first step we can take?
At RevenYou, we work with accommodation operators to align changing traveller behaviour with practical, commercially viable solutions - across operations, infrastructure and guest experience.
Published: June 2026
