2024 January/February Marina World

ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS & PROJECTS
Operators who put their marinas
on the EV map, attract new guests
who are eager to access convenient
charging.
EV charging in
the marina industry
Rolec has been a trusted supplier of electrical facilities to marinas around the
world for over three decades and, in recent years, has also developed a fastpaced
EV (electric vehicle) charging business for the UK market.
Over the past ten years, emissions
have been the biggest discussion
point in the UK, leading to increased
investment in renewable energy. Over
800,000 people are now driving electric
cars and a larger conversation is
opening up 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 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.
Zero-emission transport is not
purely a car issue. If we expand our
perspective to include other forms
of transport, we 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 marina industry
has the potential to become the saving
grace for Britons looking to get away
from it all without sacrificing the planet
in the process.
Charging away from home
Infrastructure needed to support the
transition to fully electric in the UK
is not currently meeting demand.
This factor was identified as the main
concern for EV drivers in Zenith’s
EVXperience report, with range anxiety
and the struggle of finding somewhere
to charge-up on journeys seen as a
roadblock to enjoying an EV staycation.
Having the option of charging at your
destination will, for many, make the
difference between a relaxing family
vacation and a weekend trawling the
countryside trying to get charged up.
It is, therefore, no surprise that,
according to new research by the UK
Department for Transport (DfT), almost
half (47%) of the available public
charging network, or 19,044
charge points, can be found in
destination locations. Adding
charge points at marina facilities,
gives EV drivers the security of
knowing that they won’t have to
plan their trip around charging,
which will encourage them to
favour the marina for their next
short-break or summer holiday.
Put your marina on the
EV map
Around 90% of EV drivers
seek out destinations that have
charge points over those that do not.
If operators put their marinas on the
EV map, they attract new guests by
providing convenient charging. Another
thing to consider is the number of EV
drivers who will travel that bit further
in search of charging. If you know
your area is lacking public charging
infrastructure, and most areas are,
offering charge points increases the
likelihood that EV owners will choose
your marina over others than don’t
offer charging. Depending on your
location, EV charge points can be
available to guests for the duration of
their stay, as well as being offered to
motorists passing through the area.
And charge points visible on charging
apps, like ZapMap, attract drivers to the
marina for a top-up en route to another
destination.
Vehicle downtime, although a source
of irritation for EV drivers, also opens
up an additional business opportunity.
A café, mini golf, or even just a vending
machine will be much appreciated
by families looking to pass the time
as their car gets juiced up, and these
have the potential to become additional
revenue streams.
However, when taking the UK’s
high energy prices into account, the
thought of giving away more electricity
to visitors might seem like a daunting
proposition. But with the right backoffice
software, charge points can pay
for themselves over time. Charging
tariffs can be completely customised
with segment pricing for different
groups, like staff and public; tariffs
raised during peak hours; and reserve
charge points set up for certain visitors
www.marinaworld.com – January/February 2024
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