Sustainable hotels with e-charging station
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Unplug the coffeemaker, plug in the electric car. Unfortunately, charging your electric car is not quite as simple as that. Which is why you’re probably looking for hotels with electric charging stations when you travel. But they can be hard to find, even though more and more hotels are installing charging stations in their parking lots.
If you don’t already drive an electric car but would like to learn more about it, let’s take a look at the benefits of electric cars in general to help you overcome any concerns you may have about using an electric car on vacation. At some accommodations, you can even rent an electric car (such as an E-Smart Cabriolet or an E-Porsche Taycan 4S) to experience the driving experience for yourself 🙂
How sustainable are EVs?
Of course, the most environmentally friendly option is to avoid owning a car altogether and instead use public transportation or rent a car occasionally, for example through car sharing. However, electric cars have a clear environmental advantage over internal combustion vehicles, even when the manufacturing process is taken into account.
Electric cars ahead of internal combustion engines
The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the Austrian Automobile Club (ÖAMTC), revised in 2022, shows that an electric car (Golf class) is ecologically better than a car that runs on diesel or gasoline after about three to four years. By this time, the “greenhouse gas backpack” that electric cars carry with them due to their complex batteries has been offset.
Green power significantly improves environmental performance
The current LCA assumes an electricity mix. With it, an electric car would be better after 45,000 to 60,000 kilometers. With green electricity (wind), it would only take 25,000 to 30,000 kilometers, according to the calculation. As a result, the advantages would show after one to two years.
9 sustainable hotels with e-charging station in Germany
1# New e-charging station for STURM in Mellrichstadt
“The STURM uses almost no ‘external electricity’,” says owner Matthias Schulze-Diekhoff proudly. The sustainable hotel with a natural swimming pond in the Rhön biosphere reserve produces its own green energy from two combined heat and power plants and several photovoltaic systems. The hotel’s own electric charging station was only built in 2023 and is state of the art. You can charge with all common charging cards or directly at the hotel.
Number of charging points: 6 (4 classic AC points with 22 kW and 2 DC chargers/fast chargers with up to 50 kW).
2# SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA with eParking
When you drive into the parking lot in front of the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in the climatic health resort of Bad Herrenalb, you can park your electric car right next to the charging stations. The wellness hotel with its own thermal swimming pool uses green electricity, but is currently planning to install a large photovoltaic system on the roof and generate electricity from biomass.
Number of charging points: 9 (8 x Wirelane Type II + 1 x Porsche Type II)
Prices and info: E-charging station at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA
3# Hotel Luise, electric car pioneers from Erlangen
The current owner of the Eco-Stadthotel Luise was driven to kindergarten in an electric car in the 1990s. The “City-Egg” with electric drive was a novelty at the time and is representative of the consistent ecological path the hotel has taken since then. Here you can stay in “circular hotel rooms” and take water-saving showers in “astronaut showers”.
Number of charging points: 3 (22 kW)
4# Lifestylehotel Zum Kurfürsten, hotel’s own e-charging station in Bernkastel-Kues
In Bernkastel-Kues on the Mosel River, you can see cars as they once were at the Zylinderhaus Museum for Classic Cars and Technology. With internal combustion engines. From 2035 this will be completely forbidden, and then (at least according to the plan) it will be the end for the last classic cars.
The Lifestylehotel Zum Kurfürsten has its own e-charging station for those who already drive an electric car. While your car fills up with electricity (some of which is generated by the hotel itself with 4 cogeneration units), you can relax in the 4,000 square meter wellness area of the environmentally conscious hotel.
Number of charging points: 6 (11 kW)
Price: e-car full charge 30 Euro, half charge 15 Euro, hybrid 15 Euro
#6 The Birkenhof ***** Spa & Genussresort – luxury hotel with ecological values and e-charging stations
Combining luxury and sustainability? The Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort is a prime example. The wellness hotel offers all the amenities of a 5-star hotel and is also home to the famous 2-star Eisvogel restaurant. The owner family combines all this with sustainability. For example, the hotel’s own energy is generated by two combined heat and power plants, so that the entire hotel (including the spa area) is heated in a climate-friendly manner. The owners, the Obendorfer family, drive an electric and a hybrid car and support their guests with charging stations directly in the hotel parking lot.
Number of charging points: 3 (type 2 plug, 22 kW)
#7 Landgut Stober – Conference hotel with e-charging station
Landgut Stober is an organically certified conference and meeting hotel located 20 kilometers west of Berlin. The beautiful parkland on Lake Groß Behnitz, which surrounds the sustainable organic hotel, is about a 30-minute drive from there. Electricity for the e-charging station is ecologically generated by a large photovoltaic system and two wood-chip heating systems.
Number of charging points: 1
#8 HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu – Green power charging station
Guests love staying at the sustainable Hotel HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu for hiking, wellness, or yoga retreats. The hotel will be CO2-neutral by 2020, using only regional green power along with electricity from its own solar and cogeneration plants. The e-mobility station allows you to charge your electric car right in the parking lot.
Number of charging points: 2 (11kW) – there are also two 11kW chargers in the village and a new fast charger.
Sustainable hotels with e-charging station and EV rental in Germany
#1 Klosterhof – Klosterhof • Alpine Hideaway & Spa
The Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa is located in Bayerisch Gmain and has implemented an “e-mobility concept” since 2021 to promote electric mobility in general. The hotel’s own company cars have been converted to electric vehicles (including an electric shuttle bus to pick you up from the Salzburg train station, for example), and two e-smarts are available for rent. If you bring your own electric car, you can use the Tesla charging station.
Number of charging points: 10 (8 x AC 11-22 kW with type 2 plug and 2 x DC 75 kW with CCS plug (combo))
E-rental cars: 2 x E-Smart (EQ fortwo cabrio and EQ forfour)
#2 Hotel Das Rübezahl – Romantic boutique hotel with rental E-Porsche
The question of whether luxury and sustainability can coexist is something we talk about a lot on this blog. As we said at the beginning, it is much more sustainable to borrow an (electric) car from time to time than to buy your own. And how about an elegant Porsche? Add to that the magnificent backdrop of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau (which are pretty much right in front of Hotel Das Rübezahl) and a loved one by your side – and you have the perfect trip for car fans 🙂
Number of charging points: 4 (13 kW)
E-rental cars: 1 x electric Porsche Taycan 4S
Sustainable hotels with e-charging station in Italy
Various statistics have shown once again that Italy is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe in 2024. The rankings vary slightly, but the European boot is always in the top 5. Fortunately, it is becoming easier and easier to travel to Italy by train, but many people (still) choose the (e-)car.
#1 Relais del Maro – Albergo Diffuso with charging station in Liguria
According to the owners, it takes about two hours to recharge your electric car at the Relais del Maro‘s 22 kW charging station. During this time, you are welcome to join them on the terrace for a refreshing drink 🙂 .
You can experience such warm Italian hospitality here – in the small village of Borgomaro in Liguria. Here the owner family has spread the hotel as Albergo Diffuso over several buildings in the village. Giving you the opportunity to enjoy the authentic Italian way of life.
Charging points: 1 ABB universal column (22 kW)
#2 ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA with electric car rental and free charging stations
Although Sicily itself can be reached by train (yes, the train connects to a ferry!), it is unfortunately very difficult to get to the island itself without a car. The sustainably managed ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA, located on the protected WWF Wild Beach, offers you several solutions.
Transfer to the resort
Discounted car rental rates from SIXT (if arriving by plane, train or ferry)
Electric car rental at the resort
Free charging of electric cars in the underground parking lot
Charging points: 5 (Tipo 2 plugs, 22 kW)
Cars available for rent: (2 FIAT500 with hybrid drive and 1 FIAT500 with electric drive)
#3 ADLER Lodge RITTEN, e-mobility in South Tyrol
The ADLER Lodge RITTEN in South Tyrol, Northern Italy, on the other hand, is very easy to reach without a car. In fact, the resort has put together a special program for you to enjoy a car-free vacation. For example, there is the free Ritten Card, which allows you to use all public transportation, including the cable car to Bolzano. There is also a free e-bike and outdoor equipment rental for guests to discover nature (alone or with a guide). Charging points are also available.
Charging points: 5 (with standard 11 to 22kW)
#4 OLM Nature Escape, aparthotel with charging stations in South Tyrol
Energy is a major theme at the OLM Nature Escape in Sand in Taufers, which just opened in 2023. The entire complex is energy self-sufficient thanks to geothermal probes, which is why it calls itself “the first energy self-sufficient aparthotel in the Alps”. Architecturally, the round building is a real highlight that has already impressed many architecture fans. It offers you a great mix of private hideaway, luxury and nature vacation.
Charging points: 5 (ABB), one of which is a powerful 350 kW charger. This can charge most cars for a range of 200 kilometers in just 8 minutes and is also capable of charging trucks and buses.
Sustainable hotels with e-charging stations in Austria
#1 Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld – Fill up with electricity from Tyrolean hydropower
Eco-friendly mobility is a big issue at Hotel Klosterbräu. The hotel makes it easy for you to arrive by train by taking you to the hotel and back to the station with the e-shuttle. During your vacation, you can explore the Tyrolean holiday region with e-scooters and e-bikes from the free (!) rental service. If you arrive with your own electric car, you can use the hotel’s own charging stations. The electricity comes from 100% renewable sources and is partly produced by the hotel itself. There is also green electricity from Tyrolean hydropower.
Number of charging points: 6 (4x outdoor 11kW, 2x underground garage 6kW)
#2 Hygna Chalets in Alpbachtal – Charging stations + e-golf rental
If you want to enjoy a sustainable vacation in your own chalet, the beautiful Hygna Chalets, which form their own small sustainable chalet village in Reith im Alpbachtal, are the perfect choice. Not only does the service include a delicious organic breakfast basket delivered to your door each morning, but there is also an electric car charging station and electric car (and e-bike) rentals.
Number of charging points: 3
E-rental car: E-Golf
The transition to e-mobility has begun – but the process is slow! Unfortunately, a hotel with a charging station is still far from being a matter of course. So far, many accommodations only offer the possibility to charge e-bikes and e-scooters, but not e-cars, which require different technical conditions (e.g. charging infrastructure). Hopefully we have been able to provide you with some good information and addresses on how to make your vacation with an electric car more sustainable.
What are your experiences with electric cars on vacation? Do you think there are enough charging stations?
