What Hotel Guests Expect from EV Charging in 2025 (And How to Exceed It)

Not long ago, offering EV charging at a hotel was seen as an added bonus, a way to stand out to a small group of early adopters. Fast forward to 2025, and things have changed. With EV adoption surging across the UK, charging has become as essential to the guest experience as free Wi-Fi or complimentary toiletries.

For many travellers, it is no longer just a convenience but an expectation, and one that plays a big role in how they choose where to stay. 

So what do EV-driving guests actually expect from hotels in 2025, and how can hotels go beyond the basics to create a charging experience that builds loyalty and strengthens their reputation? 

Reliability is Non-Negotiable 

Guests expect EV chargers to simply work. In 2025, 99%+ uptime is the benchmark travellers now anticipate from a high-quality hotel charging experience, and for many new installations, this benchmark is a regulatory requirement. A broken, offline, or unreliable charger doesn’t just cause frustration; it can derail a guest’s plans and overshadow the entire stay. Reliability is no longer optional; it is the foundation of trust. 

Seamless Convenience 

For business travellers arriving late or for families unloading after a long drive, convenience is everything. Hotel guests want the ability to park, plug in and relax, confident that their car will be ready for the next leg of their journey. The days of searching for public charging points down the road or worrying about range after check-in are fading. In their place is an expectation that hotels will make EV charging a seamless part of the arrival and overnight experience. 

Simple, Contactless Payment 

Ease of payment is another crucial expectation. Guests want charging to be as straightforward as tapping a card, without downloading yet another app or going through a lengthy registration process. As of November 2024, the UK requires contactless payment on chargers over 8kW, and many hotel guests see this as standard. The more intuitive the payment process, the more positive the impression left on the guest. 

Transparent and Integrated Costs 

Nobody wants to pay for their stay, only to discover additional and often expensive hidden costs for charging at a separate site down the road. Today’s EV-driving guests expect charging to be integrated into their hotel experience, either included as part of their stay or clearly priced upfront. Transparency builds trust, while unexpected costs create friction and can damage a hotel’s reputation. 

Sustainability Matters 

Increasingly, EV drivers are eco-conscious travellers who actively choose destinations that align with their values. Hotels that provide charging demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, and this carries weight in both guest decision-making and brand perception. What might once have been a “green extra” is now a vital signal of environmental responsibility. 

Why Hotels Must Respond 

These expectations are not abstract wishes; they are influencing booking behaviour right now. Hotels without reliable charging risk being filtered out entirely on booking platforms, meaning they may never even appear on the radar of an EV-driving guest. Conversely, those that provide a positive charging experience see higher satisfaction, more repeat bookings and stronger reviews. 

There is also a direct commercial benefit. Guests who can charge on-site are more likely to stay longer, dine at the hotel restaurant, drink in the bar, or make use of the spa rather than leaving the property in search of a charging solution elsewhere. The ripple effect extends beyond revenue; offering EV charging strengthens a hotel’s image as a guest focused, forward-thinking, sustainable brand, helping it stand out in an increasingly competitive market. 

How to Exceed Expectations 

Meeting guest expectations is essential, but the real opportunity lies in going beyond them. That might mean investing in technology that guarantees high uptime, ensuring chargers are well-signposted and easy to use, or offering the ability for guests to reserve a charging bay in advance so they can arrive with peace of mind. It could involve integrating charging into room packages or loyalty programmes, making the experience feel like a seamless extension of the hotel’s hospitality. Above all, exceeding expectations requires treating EV charging not as an afterthought but as an essential added value guest service. 

The Go Zero Advantage 

At Go Zero, we’ve built our solutions around exactly these needs. Our software ensures reliability and high uptime, while giving hotels the ability to monitor usage and manage tariffs with ease. Contactless payments and simple booking options mean guests enjoy a frictionless experience from the moment they plug in. And with scalable models, hotels can start with a small number of bays and expand as demand grows, to future-proof their business without overcommitting. 

Conclusion 

In 2025, EV charging has become a necessity, not a differentiator. Guests expect it to be reliable, simple, transparent and aligned with sustainable values. The hotels that embrace these expectations, and go beyond them, will be the ones that attract eco-conscious travellers, enhance guest loyalty, and future-proof their brand. 

The charging experience matters. Done right, it transforms a simple amenity into a powerful driver of satisfaction, added value, reputation and revenue.