Pay for Reserved Level 2 Charger?

[schwartz83]

For whatever reason I have not had much luck finding hotels with a level 2 charger. The last time i found one and reserved a room, the charger was iced. It is probably more hassle than it would be worth for the hotel, but I wonder if more would install them if they could charge for reserved access to the charger.

How much would you be willing to pay for reserved access?

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[beatle]

Depending on where you're staying, just electricity alone could be worth $25 depending on the size of your battery and how much you put into it. If you go by DCFC prices, that could be $50 or more. Plus the convenience of leaving with a full battery? I know $50 sounds like a lot, but I think there's a lot of value even just working it out on a calculator.

This is assuming the L2 isn't just a 4kw charger that only lets me get 40-50kwh into the truck overnight.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

$50? Are ya nuts? For that much I'm waking up early to go to a DCFC and play less for a whole session. I wouldn't pay more than $5 to reserve a L2.

 

[schwartz83]

$50? Are ya nuts? For that much I'm waking up early to go to a DCFC and play less for a session. I wouldn't pay more than $5 to reserve a L2.

OP - I'm Probably nuts, yes

 

[schwartz83]

Depending on where you're staying, just electricity alone could be worth $25 depending on the size of your battery and how much you put into it. If you go by DCFC prices, that could be $50 or more. Plus the convenience of leaving with a full battery? I know $50 sounds like a lot, but I think there's a lot of value even just working it out on a calculator.

This is assuming the L2 isn't just a 4kw charger that only lets me get 40-50kwh into the truck overnight.

I forgot to add that I was thinking of this as being in addition to any charging cost.

 

[beatle]

Oh, in addition to charging? That's way different. Every hotel I've stayed at with L2 charging has been free. I'd probably not pay much of anything to reserve a spot, maybe $5 if I had to otherwise pay for charging.

If you're in an area where DCFC is $0.50/kwh, it'll cost you $50 to dump 100kwh into your battery (a little over 70% in a max pack). I typically roll into my destinations with 10-20%, so at $50, I'm still ahead on charging cost.

As I mentioned, right now L2 destination charging at hotels is free, so this seems like a lot of money, but with EVs being more popular, it's not something you can really depend on. In this case, the $50 to reserve a spot is already presumed sunk charging money, so might as well spend it to guarantee the convenience of leaving with a full battery. Or just gamble and try to get it for free.

 

[Time2Roll]

Zip, Zero, Nada, Nil, Nothing

I would ask the desk if they could move the ICE car. Probably the manager anyway.

 

[SANZC02]

I’ve never used L2 charging when traveling.

 

[McWriteface]

when i visit friends out of state, I have consistently stayed at a hotel that has 4x 40A level 2 chargers that i plug in overnight. we use my car for all of the driving around, and i probably get $50 worth of free juice every night. it’s a huge perk, and the sole reason im willing to book a hotel a few minutes further away. if they charged me $10/night for it, im still coming out ahead. doubt i’d do $25, though.

i’ve also found parking garages that pay for the cost of the parking with at least decent charging. it’s a nice bonus to get parking near an attraction, that would normally be something you’d avoid and just walk a few blocks to park on the street somewhere, but you can balance out the expense with juice, and park in a covered garage.

 

[COdogman]

The only correct answer is that you leave the ICE vehicles blocking the hotel chargers a Chicago Sunroof so they learn a valuable lesson and next time your charger will be open without any additional charges.

 

[ndmiller]

I always check the surrounding area and lots as well and have been to about a dozen cities on roadtrips. Each time the Hotel had charging and/or the city had infrastructure for free or nominal pay charging in all the surrounding lots. Just like I was home, plugged in and in the AM it was charged.

 

[waitingonanr1s]

I have just never had an issue accessing charging at hotels that offer it. Only issue is sometimes hotels advertise this benefit loosely. Had a hotel in Lawrence, KS that the staff didn't know they advertised EV charging on their website. Called their manager and turned out there were 2 spaces with 240v plugs at the very bottom of the parking garage. It worked though - only time I've needed that adapter to date.

 

[JacobAZ]

Its been a few years and times may have changed (not as many EVs back then) ... A couple times I simply asked the front desk if there was an outlet near parking where I could plug in the Tesla mobile charger. They said yes and helped me locate an outlet. One even got an extension cord to reach the car. Yes it was a 120 volt 20 amp outlet, but it was also free.

 

[mkhuffman]

I have stayed at a few hotels that charge per kWh. Those are the ones that are more likely to have an available EVSE. I have given up trying to count on the EVSE being available. I assume it won't be and often it isn't.

I see less of a problem with ICEing. In my experience EVSE hogging is the much bigger problem. Some people think the charging space belongs to them because they got there first. They refuse to move their car long after it is fully charged. That really pisses me off. People really are generally rude and inconsiderate, and it is especially obvious when the charging is free.

I definitely would pay to reserve the spot even if it wasn't a free charge. The convenience of skipping my next charging stop is worth it to me.

 

[Great Gatsby]

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.

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