ENGIE will install 600 GeniePoint EV car-charging units at 300 hotels within three years – Colin Grice-Shutterstock
ENGIE has won a contract to deliver 1,000 electric vehicle charging points across Premier Inn hotels, in a nationwide roll-out of high-power EV chargers in the hospitality sector.
Whitbread – the owner of the Premier Inn hotels, as well as Beefeater and Brewers’ Fayre restaurants – has appointed ENGIE to install high-power GeniePoint charging points across the UK, with 600 committed across 300 hotels within the next three years.
Access to the charging points will be for guests, as well as members of the public using the GeniePoint Network – one of the nation‘s largest EV networks. ENGIE will install high-specification 50kW-plus chargers that replenish electric cars in 30 minutes with 100 per cent renewable energy.
Sam Hockman, divisional CEO of Futures at ENGIE UK & Ireland said: “A big factor for drivers considering the switch to EV is access to a broader range of charging options. This significant investment at Premier Inn sites will provide hundreds of new, convenient charging locations across the UK and also give customers access to ENGIE's wider GeniePoint network.
“This important move by Whitbread highlights the key role the hospitality sector can play to support not only the uptake of EVs but also the UK's wider commitment to become net-zero by 2050."
Simon Leigh, procurement director at Premier Inn, added: “Electric vehicles are one of the ways in which the UK strives for a greener future and we’re pleased to help drive this goal forward with what we believe is the UK’s biggest roll-out of rapid charging points to date.”
Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has also commented on the enterprise. “Electric vehicles are key to our plans to cut emissions, build back greener and kick-start a green industrial revolution across the country. Just as the government is accelerating efforts to support EV and battery manufacturing in the UK, we must also ensure the public can access high-power charging points at their convenience.
“This initiative between two great companies will allow for stress-free electric vehicle charging when we are able to visit our favourite pubs and restaurants again – allowing consumers to charge up in record time while encouraging others to make that all-important switch to electric.”
ENGIE will begin installing the chargers in March, with the first scheduled to be in Enfield, North London.