Implementing EV Charging: Lessons from a Jaipur Hotel

Implementing EV Charging: Lessons from a Jaipur Hotel

The Changing Landscape: Why Hotels in India Are Adopting EV Charging

With India’s EV adoption steadily rising, hospitality businesses—especially in Tier-2 cities—are seeing growing demand for EV charging infrastructure.

EV owners today are planning their road trips and business travels around EV-friendly hotels that offer reliable, overnight charging.

For many hoteliers, the big questions still remain:

  • Will investing in an EV charging station for a hotel pay off?
  • How much will it cost?
  • Will guests really use it?

 

Here’s a detailed look at how one 4-star property in a Tier-2 city of Jaipur in North India addressed these questions and turned EV charging into a smart business move.

Initial Scenario: Sporadic Demand but Clear Signals

In early 2023, the hotel management started noticing occasional guests arriving in EVs—usually business travelers or long-distance tourists.

Typically, 1 or 2 guests per month would ask if there was a way to charge their vehicle.

Sometimes guests would even email before booking, specifically asking:

“Do you have a working EV charger?”

This was an early sign that the presence of an EV charger could influence booking decisions.

However, the management had concerns:

  • Would usage justify the investment?
  • Would EV charging create an extra load on the property’s electrical system?
  • Was it complicated to install and maintain?

 

Taking the First Step: Small, Affordable, and Scalable

After reaching out to ZEVpoint, the hotel opted for a practical, low-risk solution:

- Installed One Level 2 AC Charger

- Cost Breakdown for First Charger:

  • Charger Hardware: ~ â‚ą40,000
  • Wiring, MCB, Fitments, Accessories: ~â‚ą10,000
  • Total Investment per Unit: â‚ą50,000

 

This level of investment felt manageable for the hotel, especially considering that Level 2 AC chargers could work easily within their existing load capacity without requiring major electrical upgrades.

Guest Usage Patterns: Overnight Charging

From the start, usage trends matched expectations for a hotel setting:

  • Most guests charged their EVs overnight, typically plugging in for 4-7 hours while they stayed.
  • Average battery sizes back in 2023 ranged from 30-35 kWh, but by 2025, guest vehicles arriving had larger batteries—closer to 45-50 kWh capacity.

 

Most guests arriving were travelling for vacation or stopping midway on longer routes.

Energy Consumption Per Session:

Given that guests mostly charged for 60-70% of their battery capacity, each overnight session resulted in about 25-30 units of electricity consumed per car.

Electricity Cost Impact:

  • Commercial tariff in the region: ~â‚ą9 per kWh
  • Total electricity cost per session: Around â‚ą225-270

 

Interestingly, hotel management compared this to their in-house coffee costs, and made a deliberate decision:

For overnight staying guests, they offered charging as a complimentary service.

“We realized that for a cost similar to a cup of coffee, we could offer something that genuinely matters to our guests.”

Growth Phase: From one or two to recurring monthly demand

By mid-2024, after 6 months of observation, the hotel saw a steady increase in EV guest footfall. Initially, it took a couple of months for the charger to be noticed by the ev owners on discovery platforms, and after a few guest experiences it started getting traction.

  • Initial usage: 1-2 guests per month
  • Current (mid-2025): 5-7 guests per month

 

What stood out was the quality of these bookings:

These weren’t just walk-ins or budget travellers but also guests who were often pre-confirming by email to ensure that the charger was functional before making a booking at the property.

This direct communication from guests gave the hotel added assurance that their investment was making a real difference in booking decisions.

Scaling Up: The Decision to Install a Second Charger

Once guest demand became regular, the hotel took the next logical step:

âś… Installed a Second Level 2 AC Charger

Cost of second charger:

  • Similar ~â‚ą50,000 investment as the first.

 

With two chargers available, the hotel could now comfortably serve multiple EV guests on the same night, reducing chances of charger unavailability.

Business Side Benefits: Beyond Guest Satisfaction

1. New Revenue from Non-Guests (Outsider Charging)

While overnight guests got free charging, the hotel introduced a paid model for daytime visitors or passersby needing a quick top-up.

Though daytime usage remained low (around 2-3 external users per month), this added a small but growing revenue stream.

2. EV Fleet for Airport Transfers: Cost Savings & Brand Image Boost

Inspired by their experience with EV charging and after discussions with ZEVpoint, the hotel decided to purchase an EV for guest airport transfers- MG Windsor EV.

âś… Why?

  • Operational cost savings: Switching to EVs cut airport transfer running costs by nearly 40% per trip, thanks to lower energy costs compared to petrol/diesel vehicles.
  • Guest experience enhancement: Eco-conscious travelers appreciated the consistency of a hotel offering both EV charging and green transfers.

 

Guest feedback started mentioning the “ev charger available”, adding a valuable differentiator for the hotel on OTA reviews and Google ratings.

How ZEVpoint Supported the Hotel

Throughout the process, ZEVpoint provided turnkey support:

  • Load assessment and charger recommendation
  • On-site installation with minimal disruption
  • Signage and guest communication guidance
  • Integration on PlugShare and Google Maps as a verified charging location
  • Advisory on using EVs for hotel operations

 

Importantly, the hotel staff didn’t need to get into technical complexities—ZEVpoint handled the entire backend, while the hotel focused on delivering great guest experiences.

Learnings from the case:

For hotel owners still debating whether to invest in EV charging stations, here’s what this property’s experience shows:

  1. Start with a few units of Level 2 chargers—depending on location & rooms.
  2. Offer charging as a guest loyalty tool—even small running costs can bring disproportionate goodwill and bookings.
  3. Leverage EV charging in your hotel marketing—on OTAs, Google Maps, PlugShare, and your website.
  4. Monitor guest feedback and usage trends—scale up when demand justifies.
  5. Explore internal fleet electrification—airport transfers, staff runs, etc., can reduce costs and enhance brand image.

 

With affordable EV charger solutions from ZEVpoint, many Indian hotels—big or small—can start making the transition towards EV-friendly hospitality.

If you’re thinking about EV charging for your hotel, it might just be the right time to act. Reach our team at impact@zevpoint.com or drop a message at +91-9779750538 to know more!

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