Emissions have been the biggest discussion point over the last 10 years. The UK Government announced their phase-out of diesel and petrol-powered vehicles by 2030, we are seeing more investments in renewable energy and a larger conversation is opening about how much waste we produce as a nation.

As the UK prepares for a net-zero future, demand for greener modes of transport and charging infrastructure increases. The transition to fully electric vehicles is imminent, which means that EV remains one of the largest green tech industries, with the most potential for growth over the next decade. In fact, according to the International Energy Agency, the number of electric cars on the road globally surpassed 10 million in 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend is expected to continue as more manufacturers invest in electric vehicle technology.

And zero-emission transport is not purely a car issue; if we expand our perspective to include other forms of transport, you might be surprised to find out that the most significant thing that we can do to reduce our individual environmental footprint is to stop flying. Travelling abroad is responsible for around 1 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions globally each year, which is more than the emissions produced by entire countries, making it the next on the chopping block for the environmentally conscious people among us.

With this in mind, the holiday park industry has the potential to become the saving grace for Brits looking to get away from it all without sacrificing the planet in the process.

A Home-Away-from-Home Needs a Home Charger

The infrastructure needed to support the transition to fully electric is not currently meeting demand. Identified as the main concern for EV drivers in Zenith's EVXperience report, range anxiety and the struggle of finding somewhere to charge-up on long journeys stands as a roadblock to enjoying an EV staycation. Having the option of charging at your destination, for many, will make the difference between a relaxing family vacation or a weekend trawling the countryside trying to get charged up.

Which is why it's no surprise that, according to new research by the Department for Transport (DfT), almost half (47%) of the available public charging network, or 19,044 chargepoints, can be found in destination locations. By adding charging to your list of facilities, EV drivers will have the security of knowing that they won't have to plan their trip around charging, which will encourage them to favour your park for their next short-break or summer holiday.

Put Your Holiday Park on the EV Map

One thing you might not have considered is how many EV drivers will travel off-the-beaten-path in search of charging. If you know your area is lacking public charging infrastructure, which we've already discussed that most are, making your chargepoints visible on charging apps like ZapMap increases the likelihood that drivers will travel to your holiday park to charge on their way to another destination.

Vehicle downtime, although a source of irritation for EV drivers, opens up possibilities for you as a business to provide additional facilities to cater to this particular clientele. A café, mini golf, or even just a vending machine will be well-loved by families looking to pass the time as their car gets juiced up. All of which have the potential to become additional revenue streams for your business.   

Even so, if you look at energy prices in the UK currently, the thought of giving away more electricity to visitors might seem like a daunting proposition. However, with the right back-office software, your chargepoints can pay for themselves over time.

Charging tariffs can now be completely customised: you can segment pricing for different groups, like staff and public, tariffs can be raised during peak hours, and you can even reserve chargepoints for certain visitors at certain times. Meaning you can guarantee your guests will have charging available to them.

Wattif There Was Funding Available?

Thanks to our recent partnership with Wattif EV, we are in the unique position of being able to offer partial and fully funded options to our EV customers. Wattif's 100% fully funded turn-key solution covers the cost of chargepoint installation, purchase, maintenance, and software. Meaning you can install charging infrastructure without any risk of investment for the business.

Alternatively, you can take advantage of a 50% partially funded option. If you opt for this alternative, Wattif EV will take responsibility for the cost of installing, maintaining, and operating your chargepoint but the initial upfront cost will be shared between the two.

There are also Government grants that are available to you as a holiday park operator. You could be eligible for up to £14,000 of Government support towards the purchase and installation of new chargepoints through the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS). This grant covers up to 75% of the total cost of chargepoint purchase and installation, up to £350 per socket.

If you did want to take part in the WCS, applications close March 31st 2024.