EV Charging Solutions for Holiday Destinations

Electric vehicles are rapidly becoming the default choice for UK holidaymakers. Whether guests are travelling in EVs to reach your glampsite or staying for a few nights and want to top up before their next leg, providing charging facilities can be a huge asset, but the type of chargers you choose matters.

Understanding charging options and their associated costs, infrastructure needs, and billing models will help you offer the right solutions for your guests while managing your investment and site resources effectively.

Why EV Charging Matters for Holiday Destinations

In today’s travel landscape, many visitors expect EV charging as part of their stay just like Wi‑Fi or hot showers. Offering charging can help increase bookings from EV‑driving customers, differentiate your site from competitors, and deliver a green and future‑friendly experience. But to do this smartly, you need to understand the types of EV chargers and how they fit with your site’s power capacity and guest behaviour.

Level 1: EV‑Rated 3‑Pin Socket

This is the most basic form of charging; a standard EV‑rated 3‑pin socket that delivers a slow trickle charge. All EVs can be charged from a 3 pin outlet. The Yoink Point comes in at a cost of £99.99. Benefits include very low cost to install, no or minimal infrastructure upgrades, and suitability for overnight or multi‑night stays. With the Yoink Point, guests can be billed automatically for the electricity that they use. The drawback is that it charges slowly, suitable only for topping up over several hours rather than quick turnarounds.

Level 2: 7 kW AC (Commercial Chargers)

7 kW EV chargers are common for overnight charging. In the UK, installing such a charger with billing (including hardware + standard installation) normally costs around £1,150–£2,500 per unit depending on complexity and site conditions. They are faster than a 3‑pin socket and can add significant range over a single night. However, they require larger electrical infrastructure and multiple units can be expensive and potentially overwhelm older electrical supplies.

Public / Fast Chargers (22 kW AC)

More powerful AC chargers that deliver 22 kW are faster for shorter stays and common in public settings like car parks. They are ideal for guests with short stays and offer flexible use for arriving and departing guests quickly. Drawbacks include higher installation costs (often £2,500+) and the potential need for 3‑phase electrical supply upgrades, which can be costly.

Charging Strategy for Holiday Sites

Every holiday site is different, but a sensible approach is: multiple level 1 EV‑rated sockets for low cost, simplicity, and allowing multiple guests to charge simultaneously without huge infrastructure upgrades; a single 7 kW or 22kW charger for guests who require a quicker charge; and avoiding high‑cost rapid units unless your site is geared to travellers stopping for very short breaks.

Plugging into the Future

For holiday destinations like glamping sites and campsites, EV charging is more than a perk, it’s becoming an expectation. Choosing the right charger mix (simple sockets plus a 7 kW unit) allows you to offer guest‑friendly charging without huge infrastructure costs. Rapid and ultra‑rapid solutions remain valuable for fast turnaround environments, but for overnight stays, slower charging often works best. With thoughtful implementation and clear billing, EV charging can both enhance the guest experience and contribute to your site’s income.