Can you “reserve” a charger at a destination hotel?

[Yellow Buddy]

Do they try to charge you? Back in 2013 they gladly let you charge for free just to get your business.

It depends on the property. I've stayed at places with and without a fee. I've even seen places charge for a J1772 but have a Tesla Destination Charger for free right next to it, which I will admit I have no shame in using my TeslaTap in that case.

The EVGos with a reservation has a fee, and it is rarely worth it if you don't use the EVGo network. By the time you pay the membership fee and the rates...it's just a silly endeavor.

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[ivan256]

Definitely plan on there NOT being a charger available. If there is one, consider it a lucky surprise.

I'm 10 months in, and a dozen attempts at hotel destination charging and I'm batting .000. Intentionally picking hotels with charging, calling ahead, checking plugshare, arriving early.. no luck. Either somebody else has been using the spot or the equipment has been broken. The only times I've had an opportunity to plug in have been times when I already had enough range to get home.

Maybe a few years ago you might be able to top off when EVs were rare, but these days there are far more people wanting to charge than destination chargers.

IMO all these places need to start charging for charging. Free charging leads to people plugging in that don't necessarily need to, and people staying plugged in long past when their batteries should be full. Think plug-in hybrids in the same charger stall for multiple consecutive days. We'd all be better off if you had to pay for the time.

 

[MRButtler]

It is illegal to park an ICE vehicle in an EV charging spot in Illinois, for what it's worth.

 

[djwildstar]

I've had mixed but generally positive results charging overnight at hotels (knock wood). My general strategy is to plan a stop not far from DC fast charging. That way if I'm unable to charge overnight I can top off at the fast charger, while if I am able to charge then I save 30-40 minutes in the morning.

The only place that has EV chargers for guests where I wasn't able to charge at all was at Walt Disney World: the hotel has 3 dual-plug J1772 chargers (total of 6 available spaces) and all spaces were occupied for every night of our stay, several with Teslas parked but not plugged in (in their possible defense, PlugShare currently reports multiple handle latches broken).

At other places, I've had to use my TeslaTap or have had to accept really slow charge rates, but have been able to charge.

On any road trip, I would pay $10-$20 extra for a reserved EV charging space linked to my room key. I feel like this is a big opportunity for hotels along some of the busier travel corridors.

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