Many hotels in India are adopting electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to cater to the growing number of travelers with EVs. This shift is due to the increasing popularity of EVs among tourists and locals alike, who are looking for hotels that provide EV charging facilities.
Last year, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) set up 224 EV charging stations at 92 of its locations and Marriott International partnered with ChargeZone to establish 100 EV charging points across the country. Other hotel chains are following suit by significantly augmenting their EV charging infrastructure.
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Royal Orchid Hotels Limited, for example, plans to roll out charging stations across all of its 82 properties in the next three months. Last week, WelcomHeritage opened a charging station at their Solan property in Himachal Pradesh. Abinash Manghani, CEO of the chain, has stated that they plan to cover the popular tourist route in Himachal Pradesh with more such charging stations.
SunFuel is the leading provider of EV chargers and has already installed 85 charging stations with over 5000 sessions delivered. By FY 2023-24, their aim is to have a presence in all 1,600 luxury hotels across India.
One hotel that has already seen the benefits of installing EV charging stations is the Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center. Sanjay Gupta, the general manager of the hotel, said that the EV traveler base makes up almost 40 percent of their customers and has helped attract repeat business. The hotel also offers discounts on events for EV customers, and Gupta said the EV charging station attracts locals as well, who need to charge their vehicles.
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To keep up with the competition and meet the expectations of their customers, hotels are now investing in EV charging stations to make sure that EV travelers have a comfortable stay. This shift towards providing EV charging stations is a great way for hotels to stay competitive in an ever-changing market. Baljee highlighted that, presently, there is a higher concentration of EV charging stations in metropolitan and urban regions where more EV owners reside. Given the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, hotels in these areas should consider installing EV charging stations to meet the growing needs of those travelling with EVs. This would fulfil the rising demand for such facilities, making it easier & safer for people to travel.
In conclusion, hotels in India are seeing the value of investing in EV charging infrastructure to cater to the growing number of travelers with EVs. This shift is not only helping hotels attract new customers but is also providing a more convenient and reliable charging option for travelers. As EVs become more popular, hotels will need to prioritize the installation of charging stations to meet customer demand and remain competitive.
