Time for an EV shift for accommodation properties
Not providing an EV charging facility at your accommodation property for the rising number of EV travellers may be holding you back
It is well established that the future of vehicles is electric. The move towards electric vehicles (or EVs) has grown out of heightened environmental concern.
Now, with greater availability of models, increased cost competitiveness, government incentives, and improved vehicle ranges, more Australians than ever are choosing to invest in an EV.
However, nationally, a lack of available EV chargers is holding back the industry. In fact, research has found that popular Australian road trips including the Savannah Way and Cairns to Cape York still can’t be driven by electric vehicles due to the lack of charging stations in the areas.
Understandably, for EV drivers holidaying across Australia, trips are often planned around the availability of chargers at their accommodation, so ensuring they have access to charging facilities is paramount. And with the number of EVs on Australian roads estimated to swell to over one million by 2030, now is the perfect time to start considering how your accommodation can better cater to this growing cohort of guests.
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Notably, RACV Noosa Resort was ahead of the curve in helping their guests reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The resort first installed charging plugs back in 2015 and even has electric vehicles available onsite for guest use.
Speaking to AccomNews about the resort’s commitment to green transport, General Manager Darren McClenaghan said: “We have had four EV charging plugs available at RACV Noosa Resort for any visitor to use.
“There are two Tesla chargers with one plug each and one non-Tesla charger with two plugs, so four plugs in total. The chargers are AC chargers with a 9.6-star rating on PlugShare.
“No advance bookings are required for the station.”
Additionally, resort guests are provided the opportunity to take an electric vehicle out for a drive during their stay, with two EVs available for hire.
“Guests of the resort can also hire one of our two Nissan Leaf electric vehicles, with a one-day experience from only $95,” Mr McClenaghan said.
“Aligned with our EarthCheck certification and range of cleaner energy initiatives, they promote zero-emissions motoring and provide guests with the convenience of hiring a car for the day to explore the Sunshine Coast.
Mr McClenaghan noted that with a range of up to 250km, a return trip to Australia Zoo is a popular destination for guests, and by using one of the EVs provided, this trip has a minimal environmental footprint.
For guests, RACV Noosa’s commitment to green energy has proven popular. In fact, over the past 12 months, the resort has recorded 990 sessions on their EV chargers. Additionally, their Nissan Leaf vehicles enjoy a utilisation rate of around 80 percent.
Outside of their own commitments to the future of EVs, RACV Noosa Resort recently became the official accommodation sponsor for the Noosa EV Expo & Street Festival.
“The expo was a fantastic opportunity to talk to the community about EVs and how RACV Noosa Resort is supporting the transition to cleaner energy options,” Mr McClenaghan said.
Sarah is a freelance journalist with experience across print, digital and audio. After working for Multimedia Publishing as a contributing writer, she has recently joined the team in a part-time capacity for School News AU and AccomNews.
