ENGIE will deliver 1,000 50kW rapid chargers to Premier Inn hotels around the UK. This will be the biggest roll-out of high-power EV chargers in the hospitality sector.
Whitbread – owner of the Premier Inn hotels, as well as Beefeater and Brewers’ Fayre restaurants – has appointed ENGIE to install these GeniePoint chargers. Currently, there are 600 committed across 300 hotels over the next three years. Access to these charging points will be for guests, as well as the public through the GeniePoint Network.
Business secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Just as the Government is accelerating efforts to support EV and battery manufacturing in the UK, we must also ensure the public can access high-power charging points at their convenience.
“This fantastic initiative between two great companies will allow for stress-free electric vehicle charging when we are able to visit our favourite pubs and restaurants again – allowing consumers to charge up while encouraging others to make that all-important switch to electric.”
Convenience is going to become increasingly important to electric vehicle drivers, especially as more make the switch from ICE vehicles. Charging points in locations such as hotels, pubs, restaurants, and retail parks not only give EV drivers a chance to top-up but it draws people to those locations, too.
Simon Leigh, procurement director at Premier Inn said: “We know that ‘range anxiety’ is a real concern for many of our guests who own electric cars. Knowing that in many locations they will soon be able to arrive and have access to a high-speed charge point to quickly refuel their car while they relax and refuel themselves will be a great source of comfort.
“A combination of our excellent locations and guests being able to wake up knowing they can safely get back on the road again means Premier Inn and ENGIE are the perfect partners for these charge points.”
More and more hospitality businesses are understanding the need for charge points at their locations. This ENGIE and Premier Inn roll-out follows announcements of Instavolt chargers being installed at KFC and McDonald’s, and Osprey points at Marston’s pubs.
ENGIE will begin installing the Premier Inn chargers in March, with the first scheduled in Enfield, London.