Chargemaster is to install EV charging points at AccorHotels Ibis and Novotel hotels across the UK.

The first phase, in 2016, will see 60 hotels receive EV charging points as part of Chargemaster’s Polar network. The charging points will be free to use for Ibis and Novotel visitors to charge their electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The charging points will be 22kW or 7kW fast chargers, enabling electric cars to be charged in 60 minutes.

However, residents are likely to take full advantage of the facility for charging their EVs overnight.

Chargemaster CEO David Martell said: “This is a major step forward in the provision of destination charging in the UK. Hotels are one of the obvious locations where EV drivers have a fundamental need for charging facilities and we are delighted to work with AccorHotels to achieve this.”

He added: “We expect hotels to adopt electric vehicle charging as a customer service in the same way that they have provided wifi across the board.”

Thomas Dubaere, managing director of AccorHotels UK and Ireland said: “As a leading operators of hotels across the UK, we are always looking at ways to enhance and improve facilities for our guests. 

"We recognise that many of our customers are adopting low-emission vehicles and we need to provide charging points at our hotels to accommodate them.

"In providing a national rollout of this service, AccorHotels continues to lead the field in customer service and our commitment to sustainable development.”

AccorHotels is the first major hotel chain to recognise the increasing need to install charging points to accommodate the growing population of business and leisure motorists using low-emission vehicles to visit their hotels.