Pay for Reserved Level 2 Charger?

[mkhuffman]

If it guaranteed a charging spot with a LV2 charger that actually worked, then yeah, $50 for the convenience does not sound too bad.

I have given up looking up hotels with chargers. They either don't exist, don't work, have like one or two spots bound to be ICEd or taken up by another EV not charging, are in a sketchy area or have an absurd charging cost ($.70/kWh). This worked like one time and it was a huge benefit and really wish hotels enforced rules more, but most front desk encounters about EV issues are met with a shrug. They just don't care. Car is blocking it? Oh well. Charger doesn't work? Oops. They are no chargers? Wow, no way.

This is my experience also with one exception. I stayed at a Marriott Springhill Suites that had six Tesla L2 EVSEs. You had to use the Tesla app to use them, and the rate was reasonable (I think it was $0.35/kWh). Because they required payment, there was less of a hogging problem there. I did see a few ICEd, but not enough to block all six. So I was able to use them without concern.

One day maybe all hotels will follow that model. I am willing to bet there is profit sharing with the hotel, assuming the hotel paid the installation cost, or maybe shared the cost. A good model would be Tesla pays for the EVESs, the hotel pays for the electrical connection. And then Tesla gives the hotel a percentage of the revenue they make. Regardless, when I find a hotel like that, I am going to prioritize staying there. Hotel revenue will increase for those who actually offer reliable charging spots.

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[beatle]

Regardless, when I find a hotel like that, I am going to prioritize staying there. Hotel revenue will increase for those who actually offer reliable charging spots.

I also search for hotels with charging. Heck, when going to the beach for a wedding a few years ago, I ended up staying 40 minutes out of my way at a hotel that had charging since there was otherwise nowhere to charge. Same story with gas stations that offer DCFC. I almost always buy at least a drink or snack when I stop. If they have a full menu like Sheetz or Wawa, I'll order a meal. Almost never do this in a gas vehicle.

 

[BigSkies]

I'd pay $10 for a reserved spot, as long as my total cost of charging + reservation fee is below local DCFC prices. Preferably significantly below.

 

[Time2Roll]

I'd pay $10 for a reserved spot, as long as my total cost of charging + reservation fee is below local DCFC prices. Preferably significantly below.

Yes if the advance fee was credit toward charging at reasonable cost it might be interesting.

 

[Dave Cundiff]

We would evaluate an EV charger reservation fee as we would any other hotel charge: Are we getting value for our money, compared to other opportunities?

Our best hotel value in Portland has only one charger, but it must be turned on manually by hotel staff. When they know more than one guest wants to charge, they encourage everyone to share considerately. It works there! But it wouldn't necessarily work everywhere.

Best wishes!

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