We are cautiously considering installing a 7kw electric car charging point in the parking area of our Airbnb annexe. We live next door, and don’t have an electric car ourselves - and it will probably be some years before we do.
Some of our guests have said it would be a great draw for our property - the nearest public charging point is over 6 miles away.
It would cost at least £500 to buy and instal, but could be an investment for the future.
However, how would we charge for its use by guests?
Electricity is now going to cost us 19.95ppkwh, so 1 hour’s charge would cost around £1.40. Charging isn’t something one could afford to throw in as a freebie. I don’t think it could be separately metered.
How then, can one charge properly and fairly for the additional service?
Any ideas or advice?
You might want to have a look at some of the uk host forums on FB - this has been discussed quite a lot .
Can’t remember what people said they charge but unless you have lots of guests using electric cars I wouldn’t rush into this as you have a charging point nearby
Are you aware that an electric vehicle can be charged from a standard 3 pin UK plug. Takes longer, but they can still put some charge in their vehicle without you even knowing!
Also your tariff seems high - have you looked at the Octopus Tariffs? If you wanted to switch to Octopus, I have.a code to get you £50 bonus (I get the same, but you can do it with any Octopus customer, not just me !! i.e. a family member?)
Many thanks for that. Yes, I realise one could use a 3 pin socket, and that might be an interim solution, but I feel the dedicated charger would be more attractive to EV owners, as it’s so much quicker.
I will (as a previous reply suggested), look at the Facebook UK groups to see what they do; it’s how one would meter the charging point which I feel might be the main stumbling block.
Alas, I am one of the many who have been dropped into the tender tentacles of Octopus Energy, as my previous supplier, Avro, went bust. The new charging rate is what Octopus are ‘offering’ their new clients, along with horrendous daily charges, but there seems little point in casting about for better rates until the situation calms down.
The code might be useful, and many thanks for the offer, but I doubt if those transferred to Octopus would be able to take advantage?
Give me back the days of regulated monopoly utilities that don’t leave customers freezing in the unregulated dark!
If the cost of one charge is £2,40 (about $5 US) I would start by adding a pound to the nightly rate. Because not everyone would use it, that should not only pay for the juice but help pay for the charger and installation.
I think metering for charging would be a disencentive, but you certainly could add a meter of your own between the charger and its mains connection and just read it at start and finish, but I think that’s a bit much. You might try to find a charger that will log its use by time and date. A commercial smart car charger will take credit cards, of course.
— Waiting to make my fortune with AirBnB so I can buy that electric Porsche Taycan and take on the Dolomites, Alps, and Pyrenees… 
I am surprised that you have to accept being ‘transferred’ to octopus. Your contract with your previous supplier no longer exists as they have gone bump. So I would ask why are you not at liberty to enter into a contract with whoever you want?
But back to your original queue, are you aware that AirBnB properties might fall within the new regulations for ‘grant assisted’ installations next year? Doesn’t help you with charging clients (sorry about the pun) but might mean a cheaper installation?