Electric vehicle (EV) charging station availability in the US is soon going to be boosted a bit by the expansion of a Hilton Worldwide program, according to a new press release.
The expansion will see EV charging stations installed at 50 US hotels by the end of 2015; and 100 US hotels by the end of 2016. Worth noting, is that different charging stations will be present for those driving Teslas (Model S, Model X, Roadster, etc) and those driving other EVs or plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
“By teaming with leading organizations like Tesla and GE to add more electric vehicle charging stations, we’re making the travel process easier for a growing number of our guests,” stated Jim Holthouser, executive vice president, Global Brands, Hilton Worldwide. “We believe technology can and should take the friction out of travel – no matter if you’re road-tripping in an electric vehicle or flying into town and need to find the best way to get to one of our hotels. Our goal is to support our guests in their travels no matter what technology they’re using.”
Some other things to note here: the EV charging stations will be spread amongst different brands (Hampton, DoubleTree, Waldorf Astoria, etc); the new program will be expanded to international markets in 2016; and qualifying hotel owners will be receiving the charging equipment free of charge — they’ll simply need to have it installed and cover the associated electricity costs.
A recent press release expounds on the motives behind the new program:
EV sales have increased dramatically in the last few years as the number of affordable vehicle options have increased. Since 2010, more than 350,000 EV’s have been sold in the US and approximately 120,000 of those were sold in 2014 alone, according to InsideEVs Monthly Scorecard. Opportunity abounds for Hilton property owners as guest use of EVs continues to increase.
Providing hotel guests with even more choices to manage their environmental footprint while on the road is just one of the ways Hilton is incorporating responsible business options into the guest experience. Earlier this year, Hilton launched Meet with Purpose, a meeting concept focused on sustainable choices for meetings and events. Hilton also manages its own environmental performance through a series of programs, partnerships and hotel activations that improve its overall impact on the environment.
A bit of fluff and greenwashing to the explanation I suppose, but an interesting move nonetheless. The expansion of EV charging infrastructure over the last few years has been interesting to witness, to say the least. How fast will hotel charging like this grow in popularity?