Hotel EV Charging: Built Around the Overnight Stay.
Most hotel guests park for 8 to 14 hours, so even a modest AC charger can fill a battery overnight. What matters more is access, valet handling and how you price it.
Different Guests, Different Needs.
| Guest type | Typical stay | What a charger adds | What fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight guests | 8–14 h | A full charge for most cars on 7 kW AC | 7–11 kW AC wallboxes; the long stay does the work |
| Road-trip travellers | Late arrival, early departure | Most of a battery overnight on 7–11 kW AC | AC overnight; a compact DC charger at highway hotels |
| Restaurant & spa visitors | 1–3 h | About 40–180 km on 7–11 kW AC | 11–22 kW AC near the restaurant entrance |
| Conference & event guests | 4–8 h | Enough for the drive home on 7 kW AC | Several AC bays sharing power through load management |
| Shuttles & staff cars | Shifts | A full shift on 7–11 kW AC | Dedicated bays with card access |
Estimates assume about 18 kWh per 100 km.
How Much Power Does a Hotel Really Need?
Overnight guests park for 8 to 12 hours, so even moderate charging power refills most cars by check-out.
| Charging Power | Range Added per Hour | Time to Add 100 km (62 mi) | Good Fit For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.4 kW ACSingle-phase wallbox | ≈ 41 km / 25 mi | ≈ 2.4 h | Overnight guest bays |
| 11 kW ACThree-phase wallbox | ≈ 61 km / 38 mi | ≈ 1.6 h | Guest bays with late arrivals |
| 11.5 kW Level 2North America, 48 A | ≈ 64 km / 40 mi | ≈ 1.6 h | Guest bays in North America |
| 22 kW ACThree-phase wallbox | ≈ 122 km / 76 mi* | ≈ 49 min* | Valet bays for cars with 22 kW onboard chargers |
| 22 kW DCCompact DC | ≈ 122 km / 76 mi | ≈ 49 min | Day visitors, restaurant guests and valet turnarounds |
Estimates assume average consumption of 18 kWh per 100 km (about 3.5 miles per kWh), and do not include charging losses; real results vary with the vehicle, temperature and battery level. *AC charging speed is capped by the vehicle's onboard charger. Many EVs accept 11 kW AC at most, so a 22 kW AC charger gives those cars 11 kW. DC charging bypasses the onboard charger.
Make Charging Part of the Stay.
Tell guests before they arrive
Mention charging in the booking confirmation and list it as an amenity on your booking channels, so EV drivers choose you.
Let guests reserve a bay
A simple bay booking at check-in avoids arguments when there are more EVs than chargers.
Plan for valet parking
If you offer valet, staff plug cars in and move them when full. Give valets RFID cards and choose cable lengths that reach the bays they use.
Light it for late arrivals
Road-trip guests often arrive late. Light the bays and keep access open 24 hours.
Near the entrance, not in the way
Guests carry luggage, so bays near the door are best, but keep the drop-off lane clear.
Night load works in your favour
Overnight charging happens when kitchens and conference rooms are quiet, so your existing supply often goes further than you expect.
Free, Flat Fee or Per kWh?
Free amenity
Included in the room rate. Simple and popular with guests, but limit access to guests with RFID cards issued at check-in.
Flat fee per night
Easy to add to the bill at the front desk and fair for overnight stays.
Per kWh or per session
Best when non-guests can use the chargers too. Check local price display rules for public chargers.
Move-on policy
With more EVs than bays, ask guests to move once full, and send app alerts when charging ends.
Chargers That Fit Hotel Car Parks.
Specifications from our current product catalogue. Certificates are listed per model in every quote.
EV-ACT3204E wallbox
- 7 kW, 32 A, 230 V single-phase
- Tethered Type 2 cable, 5 m or 7 m
- RFID card, app and plug-and-charge start
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, 4G optional
Best for overnight guest bays on a single-phase supply.
EV-ACT1602PE wallbox
- 11 kW, 16 A, 380–400 V three-phase
- Tethered Type 2 cable, CEE 5-pin plug
- RFID card, app and plug-and-charge start
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, 4G optional
Best for most hotel bays with a three-phase supply.
EV-ACT3204PE wallbox
- 22 kW, 32 A, 380–400 V three-phase
- Tethered Type 2 cable, CEE 5-pin plug
- RFID card, app and plug-and-charge start
- IP66
Best for restaurant and spa visitors who stay a few hours.
EV-RHDC30K-L compact DC charger
- 22 kW DC output, single tethered connector
- 380–415 V three-phase input
- OCPP 1.6J, RFID card and app start
- IP54, 5 m cable, floor-standing
Best for highway hotels with late-arriving road-trip guests.
EV-ACT3204U / EV-ACT3204T
- 32 A, 7.68 kW, 240 V
- J1772 (U) or NACS (T), 25 ft cable
- NEMA 14-50 plug
- App and plug-and-charge start
Best for overnight bays at US and Canadian hotels.
EV-ACT4001U / EV-ACT4001T
- Up to 40 A, 9.6 kW, 208–240 V
- J1772 (U) or NACS (T), 25 ft cable
- NEMA 14-50 plug, needs a 50 A breaker
- NEMA 4 / IP66, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Best for mixed guest and visitor bays in North America.
Final circuit sizing and permits must follow your local electrical code and be confirmed by a licensed electrician.
Rules to Check Before You Buy.
Chargers that are open to the public face extra rules on safety listings, connectors and payment. Use this checklist for your region.
United States & Canada
- Safety listing from a recognized testing lab (UL, ETL or CSA mark) for the exact model
- Installation to NEC Article 625 in the US or the Canadian Electrical Code
- Connectors: SAE J1772 or NACS (SAE J3400) for AC; CCS1 or NACS for DC
- Check local accessibility rules for public charging bays
European Union
- CE marking, with chargers built to IEC 61851
- Connectors: Type 2 for AC, CCS2 for DC
- Under AFIR, publicly accessible chargers must allow ad-hoc payment: below 50 kW by card reader, contactless device or secure QR payment; 50 kW and above by card reader or contactless device
- Billing per kWh may require calibration-law-compliant metering in some countries, such as Germany
United Kingdom
- UKCA or CE marking
- Connectors: Type 2 for AC, CCS2 for DC
- Under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, new public charge points of 8 kW and above must accept contactless payment
- Public charging prices must be shown clearly in pence per kWh
Amenity, Flat Fee or Pay-per-Use?
Hotels use charging to win bookings as much as to recover costs. Pick the model that fits your brand.
Complimentary Amenity
Best for: Upscale and boutique hotels, and business travelers.
How it works: Charging is included for guests, with access through RFID key cards or the app.
Watch out for: Non-guests using the bays. Restrict access with RFID cards or app access lists.
Flat Fee per Night
Best for: Simple pricing without per-kWh billing.
How it works: The front desk adds a fixed charging fee to the guest's bill for each night they use a bay.
Watch out for: Keeping bay assignments clear for front-desk staff at check-in.
Pay-per-Use
Best for: Hotels whose chargers are also open to restaurant guests or the public.
How it works: Drivers pay per kWh by app or a supported payment method, with an idle fee once charging ends.
Watch out for: Payment and price-display rules for publicly accessible chargers.
Send Us These 6 Details for a Tailored Plan.
This helps our engineers recommend the right configuration for your site faster.
Hotel EV Charging — Frequently Asked Questions.
Do hotels need fast chargers?
Usually not for overnight guests. A 7 to 11 kW AC charger can charge most cars fully during a night’s stay. A compact DC charger is worth adding at highway hotels, where guests arrive late and leave early.
Should charging be free for guests?
Many hotels include it as an amenity and restrict access with RFID cards issued at check-in. Others charge a flat fee per night or a per-kWh tariff, especially when non-guests can use the bays.
How does charging work with valet parking?
Valet staff plug cars in, unplug them when full and move them to make room. Give the valet team RFID cards and choose cable lengths that reach the bays they use most.
How many chargers should a hotel start with?
Start with a few bays and track how often they are full. Lay ducting to more bays during the first installation so adding chargers later is cheap.
Will overnight charging overload our electricity supply?
Overnight charging happens when kitchens, conference rooms and laundry are quieter, so spare capacity is usually higher. Load management can share the available power across all bays.
Can non-guests use our chargers?
Yes, if you want them to. You can open the chargers to the public at a per-kWh price while keeping guest charging free or discounted through the app.
Related EV Charging Solutions.
Upgrade Your Hotel With Value-Added Charging.
Send us your number of rooms, parking layout and supply rating. We will suggest how many bays to start with and the right mix for overnight and day guests.