A new survey reveals that electric car drivers want public charging points to offer better hospitality and retail facilities on-site.
The research, undertaken by Deloitte as part of its Global Automotive Consumer Study, sought the opinions of 1,500 British consumers.
More than one-fifth (21 percent) of those surveyed said they looked for dedicated EV charging sites with amenities when away from home.
Keeping caffeinated
The biggest priority for EV drivers while charging is access to coffee and other drinks. This was important for almost two-thirds (64 percent) of those surveyed. On a related note, toilet access mattered to 56 percent.
Wi-fi connectivity was another noted factor, with more than half (55 percent) making this a consideration.
Options for snacks and light meals were listed by 43 percent of respondents when choosing where to charge their electric car, with a lounge area useful for 42 percent.
New dedicated EV charging hubs, such as Gridserve’s Electric Forecourts, have incorporated many of the conveniences noted in the survey.
Jamie Hamilton, head of electric vehicles at Deloitte, said: “Traditional amenities such as coffees and bathroom access remain a priority for consumers. However, there is growing demand for other retail services that consumer businesses should consider trapping into as drivers wait for their vehicles to charge.”
Charging is leisure time
The Deloitte survey also offers insight into how long drivers will wait to charge their EV.
More than a third (36 percent) of those surveyed said they would wait between 21 and 40 minutes to charge their car from empty to 80 percent battery capacity, while a quarter (25 percent) would wait between 41 minutes and an hour for the same charge.
Andreas Scriven, head of leisure and hospitality at Deloitte, added: “Greater electric vehicle adoption has prompted a new market for hospitality services, with battery charging times also doubling as leisure time.
“Those businesses that look to new charge point locations and create the venues and services that consumers are demanding will make the most of the opportunities posed by EV charge-time windows.”
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