Page 3 | to charge an EV at AirBnB?

1805 · 2022-08-17T20:10:55+00:00

We have booked an air BnB which does not stipulate it has a car charging point. I said we should use our electric car to get there, then use the 3 pin plug cable (through a window probably) to give the car a trickle charge overnight. DH says we should pay to use a public charger. I reckon it would cost around £7 to charge it up overnight. £15 on a public charger. WWYD? Charge or not charge?

vera99 · 17/08/2022 22:09

Airbnb is another nail in the long-term affordable housing rental market so anything that gets them out is good in my mind. Go for it.

MapleLeafMoose · 17/08/2022 22:16

Just wanna math it out for those comparing it to a mobile phone. I'm going to use the average variable price for the UK as that's the most common demographic here at 18.9p/kwH (which is probably conservative).

Assuming high-capacity battery of 90kWh:
90 x 0.189
= 17.01 BPS

Assuming a mid-range capacity of 65kWh:
65 x 0.189
= 12.29 BPS

And that's one charge per day, which depending on location (automotive scale) and amount of touring might not even be reasonable to assume. Not to mention there are predictions of rates upwards of 0.50p at peak hours in the near future in the UK. So, while I place the burden on the owner to specifically disclaim that this doesn't constitute reasonable usage, I wouldn't feel great about doing it particularly if it's not an expensive property. I forgot how costly electricity is in the UK.

rachelvbwho · 17/08/2022 22:16

Josephsrose · 17/08/2022 21:17

It's awful. I'm having to do my spare room on Air BnB because of poverty and bills. My big fear is people like you.

You are hiring a room in your house out to strangers.... I would expect there to be much bigger fears than someone charging their car! (it would also be extremely noticeable if they are sharing a house with you)

TwoBlondes · 17/08/2022 22:16

@gatehouseoffleet thanks for assuming you know everything about me and my financial situation. I've just spent a year trying to evict a family because they made their neighbours' lives hell and I actually give a shit about them because I'm a decent human being.

My Airbnb is my only income and I live in a country where property is cheap and there is no shortage of rental accommodation. I couldn't find a tenant for a house that sleeps seven, even with a rent of only 500€ a month.

But yeah, I'm obviously tight.

bellac11 · 17/08/2022 22:18

vera99 · 17/08/2022 22:09

Airbnb is another nail in the long-term affordable housing rental market so anything that gets them out is good in my mind. Go for it.

Ridiculous post.

Airbnb is simply a website advertising self catering holiday rentals.

Lunar270 · 17/08/2022 22:18

Maltybiscuit · 17/08/2022 21:14

It's a huge fire risk, please don't do it, go to a payable public charger.

Bingo!

bellac11 · 17/08/2022 22:20

MapleLeafMoose · 17/08/2022 22:16

Just wanna math it out for those comparing it to a mobile phone. I'm going to use the average variable price for the UK as that's the most common demographic here at 18.9p/kwH (which is probably conservative).

Assuming high-capacity battery of 90kWh:
90 x 0.189
= 17.01 BPS

Assuming a mid-range capacity of 65kWh:
65 x 0.189
= 12.29 BPS

And that's one charge per day, which depending on location (automotive scale) and amount of touring might not even be reasonable to assume. Not to mention there are predictions of rates upwards of 0.50p at peak hours in the near future in the UK. So, while I place the burden on the owner to specifically disclaim that this doesn't constitute reasonable usage, I wouldn't feel great about doing it particularly if it's not an expensive property. I forgot how costly electricity is in the UK.

What would a mobile phone cost to charge for that time or a telly to have on for the same

What was the cost, what is BPS

Our electricity is 29p per thingy.

bellac11 · 17/08/2022 22:22

Actually I dont understand those figures at all

How long is the car charging for?

boingy · 17/08/2022 22:23

Usually air bnbs will say if they allow EV charging in the house rules. Just message the host to check.

OneTC · 17/08/2022 22:27

I am conflicted.

Some people must also use very little

Lunar270 · 17/08/2022 22:28

MapleLeafMoose · 17/08/2022 22:16

Just wanna math it out for those comparing it to a mobile phone. I'm going to use the average variable price for the UK as that's the most common demographic here at 18.9p/kwH (which is probably conservative).

Assuming high-capacity battery of 90kWh:
90 x 0.189
= 17.01 BPS

Assuming a mid-range capacity of 65kWh:
65 x 0.189
= 12.29 BPS

And that's one charge per day, which depending on location (automotive scale) and amount of touring might not even be reasonable to assume. Not to mention there are predictions of rates upwards of 0.50p at peak hours in the near future in the UK. So, while I place the burden on the owner to specifically disclaim that this doesn't constitute reasonable usage, I wouldn't feel great about doing it particularly if it's not an expensive property. I forgot how costly electricity is in the UK.

What's a BPS? British pounds sterling?

The calcs are correct (except battery capacity is in kW not kWh) but have never seen BPS!

Thankfully I'm still on 5p/kWh so makes my EV very cheap still.

LostInSpaceRaiders · 17/08/2022 22:29

At the very least, you should ask the owners and offer to pay. Most properties with a dedicated charger will charge a premium if the electricity is included, or will levy price per kWh or a per week charge. It’s basic manners really to ask - we’re staying in a very rural cottage in September and have been lucky that the farmer has an industrial commando socket that we can use our multi-rate granny charger on if all of the local chargers suddenly break… but I won’t be using their electric if I’ve got other options, just the same as I wouldn’t have helped myself to the diesel in their vehicles if I’d been in my old ICE vehicle.

As you should well know, the use of the granny charger / 3 pin charger is recommended by most manufacturers as a last resort, and you should ensure that the electrics of any property that you choose to use such a charger at is up to the job of what is a tremendous pull on a domestic power supply. Should your charger cause damage to their electric system, they likely wouldn’t be able to claim on their insurance as they’d expect them to be able to claim against the manufacturer of the charger, and the manufacturer would rest on the “check the electrics are sufficient” caveat.

Anybody saying it’s no different to leaving the tv on all day is out of their tiny mind…. If you were to put an 80% charge into an average battery size of about 50kWh, you’d be looking at the same energy you’d use to wash 45-50 loads of laundry, and it would cost around £13.70 at the current price cap, but could be anything upwards of £25 if they’ve managed to recently secure a fixed tariff below the expected price cap. Factor in multiple figures of this if they’re on a commercial tariff.

bellac11 · 17/08/2022 22:30

Where are people getting electricity for 5p per thingy?

And how many hours are the cars charging for in the example?

And how much was the comparison with the mobile phone? I dont see it anywhere

Lunar270 · 17/08/2022 22:32

OP, it's difficult to know how much the homeowner is paying for electricity so may/may not be an issue.

For instance I'm paying 5p/kWh until October and then 7.5p/kWH till 2023. I was fortunate as the alternative was ~40p/kWh. This makes the difference between £2.48 and £13.2 to charge my car and it's only a 33kW battery.

I'd ask beforehand or failing that, leave a £10 tip.

Frazzled2207 · 17/08/2022 22:33

I’ve done this several times including last week.

However I asked the owner each time, they always agreed and I offered to pay for the extra leccy-each time they refused

rubbish is it a fire risk!

Sumlove · 17/08/2022 22:34

I have an EV and I wouldn't do this. My car manufacturer says the domestic 3 pin should not be used regularly. Go to a public charger and charge for 45 minutes for £10 or so. Use the zapmap app to locate chargers, it's not difficult to plan journeys and charge en route.

stayathomegardener · 17/08/2022 22:35

I run an Airbnb and recently had a guest ask to charge their car, no offer of an extra money.

Obviously I said yes but I did think it cheeky.

Our costs/profits are pretty carefully calculated.

I need to update my terms and conditions to resolve this in future.

Frazzled2207 · 17/08/2022 22:36

1805 · 17/08/2022 21:38

Just to clarify, we would be using the original manufacturers cable provided with the car for exactly this use. We know not to use a domestic extension lead with it, and to not coil the cable up when in use. We sleep with the window open anyway, and the property is single story, so we'd use a plug in the bedroom.

This is all totally fine but I think you need
to ask first.
I’ve never had anyone say no

DotDotaDash · 17/08/2022 22:41

There is no huge profit on our Air BnB so our T&C offer a daily ceiling for electric charges and over and above that we would charge back at cost.

Having said that we do have an EV charger there and use is included…. No one has reached the ceiling charge yet.

Dont just take the power for something that isn’t offered please apart
from anything else it’s really against the friendly principal of air BnB.

MacavityTheDentistsCat · 17/08/2022 22:42

Surely what matters is the principle and not the calculations?

If you had a petrol or diesel car, would you expect to be able to charge the AirBnB owner your refuelling costs?

No? Well don't recharge your car using their electricity then. Just because you can, does not mean you should.

PowerPack · 17/08/2022 22:42

I don't see the difference to charging anything else, or running the washing machine more than usual because you have a bedwetter or turning the heating up because granny feels the cold.

Some visitors will barely use any power because they're not there much and eat out every night, others will have a family on various devices all evening and cook a full meal every night. Swings and roundabouts and if power's included in the price, it's included in the price.

OP says it's £7.

ErrolTheDragon · 17/08/2022 22:45

Fupoffyagrasshole · 17/08/2022 21:48

You’d leave your phone and other devices plugged in all night so why not this

How long do you think an EV car would run on the tiny batteries in your phone and other devices? 😂

Ask the host, OP.

Lunar270 · 17/08/2022 22:45

bellac11 · 17/08/2022 22:30

Where are people getting electricity for 5p per thingy?

And how many hours are the cars charging for in the example?

And how much was the comparison with the mobile phone? I dont see it anywhere

I'm still on an economy tariff so 15p peak and 5p off peak. In October it's going to 39.55p peak and 7.5p off peak.

I've a 33kW battery so at 5p/kWh you simply multiply the two:

33 x 0.05 = £1.65.

In terms of duration, I have a 7kW charger so to find out the charge time, simply divide the capacity by the charge rating:

33 / 7 = 4.7h or 4h 42 minutes.

My off peak is just 4 hours so can mostly charge my car in this window as it mostly has some range remaining.

My TV has a power rating of about 100W. In the same 4 hour window it will use 400W i.e. 100W/h

At the same rate of 5p/kWh it will cost 2p so not comparable at all.

Charging an EV is almost like putting a 5kW electric range oven on and slow roasting for 6.6 hours.

Hope this helps!

ErrolTheDragon · 17/08/2022 22:47

power's included in the price, it's included in the price.

Power for the things you do in the accommodation are included. Providing you with transport isn't.

PowerPack · 17/08/2022 22:49

Charging an EV is almost like putting a 5kW electric range oven on and slow roasting for 6.6 hours.

Which would be OK if that's what someone wanted to do on their holiday?