Can I plug in my electric car?

[Laura2592]

I have an upcoming guest who just asked this and estimates it will cost "10-20 dollars" for the car to charge during their stay with an offer to reimburse. This is my first such request. We do have an outdoor outlet but its nowhere near where the car would park.

Have you had this? Do you allow it? Do you ask for reimbursement or eat the cost? Is that really what it costs?

[Tania646]

I was able to contact EVMatch about the cost they used (less than my actual cost) and they have fixed it, where they use my actual cost.  So I'm very happy with EVMatch.

[Gordon0]

In the UK, our Prime Minster has recently announced all new build properties from next year (as well as major renovations on existing houses) will have to include an EV charger to pass building regs. As somebody who has just put a reservation on a house by the sea, I'm pretty happy with this, especially as I'd planned on buying an EV in three years (when the prices will supposedly have dropped). 

[Ryan2352]

Even with local guests, I don't think we've had an electric car yet.  Hasn't been an issue and there are fast chargers nearby and a tesla station about 10 minutes away.

[Richard531]

Depending on what you charged (pun intended!) the guest for their stay, I would just offer the service for free (assuming there is no cord distance/mechanical limitations to making it happen).  You delight the guest and it costs you $10.  

We have Level-2 Chargers at two listings and dedicated Level-1 charging outlets at all the others.  We don't even think to ask the guest for anything if they'd like to charge up.  We also advertise that we have EV Charging at all listings.  We get a lot of folks who comment in our conversations/inquiries about how excited they are to charge up at the home.  This indicates that they are filtering by EV Charging availability.  Nice (easy) differentiator.  

EVs are the future (~20 years away this will be the only option) so it's good to be on it now.  

[Laura2592]

@Richard531 yes I am not planning to charge them but they can charge their car if their cord is long enough. I need to keep an eye on this and look into some future upgrades.

[Richard531]

Once you tell them "You're more than welcome to charge!" they'll be so delighted.  Just go out there and see how they do it to get tips on how to possibly make it better.  Keep in mind that electrical changes are in the $500 range to make something super nice (even if it's just a dedicated GFCI outlet).  For Level-2 charging, you'll need to be sure you have sufficient amperage and also get the charger.  This is more like $1K when it's said and done.  

Check out my listings and you'll see how I feature charging (the Level-2 chargers) and how on the Level-1 chargers, I show a little picture (last image) of how we feature it for guests.  Maybe do the same.  I got those custom signs on Etsy and people love them.  

[Ann72]

Thanks, @Richard531, when I install the chargers this spring I'll look for those signs.  In the meantime, I love your listing and have saved it.  Is it really only $111 a night or does that change with the number of guests?

[Stephanie365]

---

@Richard531 wrote:

Depending on what you charged (pun intended!) the guest for their stay, I would just offer the service for free (assuming there is no cord distance/mechanical limitations to making it happen).  You delight the guest and it costs you $10.  

---

Unfortunately, I think you're making the assumption that people with EVs only book at whole house locations where the nightly price is often well into 3-digits.  My nightly rate is about $90 once AirBNB takes its cut.  So you're suggesting I give up 10% of my gross income to "delight" my guest? 

[Richard531]

Thanks so much for the save!  Be sure to check them all out on there!  

It's that doggone blended rate thing that Airbnb does so it can be a little misleading.  And we have an additional fee for additional guest.  So it can get up there quickly.  However, depending on if there's an orphan night, you can get a killer deal to be sure!  Be sure to select the night you're interested in and price it out!  

[Ann72]

I meant it was too low @Richard531 lol!  It must be so cheap to maintain a house out there.  Will be sure to check back on my next trip to California (I just got back from LA on Saturday).

[Sandra126]

@Richard531 I have favourited one of your listings so I can find it for when I recommence hosting. Its extremely professional, great language, excellent all round. Will use as inspiration. I'm not a potential guest, wrong country... well done. I too got sick or furniture being moved, mostly sofas to make room for yoga mats.  Scratched the floor... should have bolted them...

[Richard531]

@Sandra126  Thanks so much for the kind words!  And you never know, maybe one day you'll be in the area and can stay at one of the listings!

Once your stuff is bolted, it will give you so much comfort.  I'm serious!  You're gonna know that at least some stuff will be where it's supposed to be when a guest vacates.  

[Helen31]

Today, I have had a family arrive for a 6 week stay while their new house build is being finished. They have two huge electric cars! I had no idea and they clearly plan to charge them at the house, although I only have an extension lead for them to use - no specialist outside EV charger. I have never had cause to install one.

Firstly, I am worried about the cost as our electricity price has just doubled and also our house is over 500 yrs old and already has some challenges around the electrics.

They seem like very nice reasonable people and have very kindly agreed to let us show potential buyers around the house (we're selling) while they are away on holiday for 2 of the weeks they have booked. But I think that the charging of their cars is probably going to cost several hundred pounds.

Anyone got any thoughts or suggestions?

TMany thanks.

Helen

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Helen31 Its too late for you but we have it in our listing description that guests have to pay for charging an electric car.

An extension lead is not suitable as it will get wet and short out the house electrics. If their charging lead doesn't make it to the socket then I suggest you decline the use of charging.

[Helen31]

Thank you for this. Obviously I will change my description now. It's just sod's law that this has happened on a 6 week booking with not just one but two electric cars!

How do you calculate the cost of charging?