Guests with electric cars in your holiday home: how to prepare and capture a growing market each year

Guests with electric cars are already in the millions across Europe, and the number is increasing every year. They choose accommodations based on a very specific factor: whether they can charge their car or not. If your holiday home has parking or a private space, you still have time to tap into a market that pays more, stays longer, and leaves better reviews. I'll tell you what you need, how much it costs, how to charge, and common mistakes.

Why this market interests you (even if you’re not into electric cars)

In Spain, there are already over 450,000 registered electric and plug-in hybrid cars, and the figure grows each year. But the real data is different: most electric tourists coming to Spain are Europeans—Germans, French, Dutch, Nordic countries. Countries where electric vehicles already account for over 20-30% of new registrations.

These guests:

• Book further in advance (plan charging routes).
• Are usually families or couples with middle-high income.
• Stay longer on average (3-5 nights vs 2-3).
• Pay without bargaining if you solve a real problem.
• Leave good reviews when they find what they’re looking for.

And on platforms like Airbnb, Booking, or Vrbo, there is already a filter "electric vehicle charging point." If you have it, you appear in searches with minimal competition. If not, you don’t appear.

What options do you have to offer charging

Not all properties can install a wallbox. And not all need to. It depends on your case.

Option 1: Standard Schuko socket (the cheapest)

A domestic 230V, 16A socket—what you have in any wall. Charges at 2.3 kW, meaning in 8 hours you can get about 18-20 kWh. Enough for 100-120 km of range.

• Cost: €0 if you already have it in the parking or garage.
• Pros: already installed, guest brings their own cable (comes with the car).
• Cons: slow, not suitable for guests needing fast charging, and can overheat if used many hours in a row without a good condition socket.

If your socket is over 15 years old, do not use it for this. Real fire risk.

Option 2: Wallbox (what they really look for)

A dedicated charger of 7.4 kW (single-phase) or 11-22 kW (three-phase). Full charge in 4-8 hours depending on the car.

• Equipment cost: €400-€1,200.
• Installation: €300-€800 depending on distance to the panel and work needed.
• Realistic total: €700-€2,000.

This is what gets you into the "charging point" filter on platforms. And what electric guests truly value.

Option 3: Not offering charging but providing good information

If you live in a building where installing a wallbox isn’t allowed, or rent without parking, you can still attract this market. How? Indicating nearby public chargers in your listing.

A map with the 3-5 closest chargers (name, distance, kW, operator) in your welcome manual is gold. Guests appreciate it and mention it in reviews.

Quick comparison of options

Option	Investment	Charging speed	Attracts premium market	Shows in filters
Schuko socket	€0-€100	Very slow (2.3 kW)	Little	Not officially
Wallbox 7.4 kW	€700-€1,500	Medium (full charge in 6-8h)	Yes	Yes
Wallbox 11-22 kW	€1,200-€2,500	Fast (3-5h)	Yes (high-end segment)	Yes
Only info on public chargers	€0	N/A	Yes if done well	No

How much to charge for the electricity

This is where most owners get confused. There are three models, each makes sense in different contexts.

Model 1: Charging included in the stay price

Guests charge as much as they want, without measurement. You cover the cost.

• When does it make sense: short stays (2-3 nights), low electricity rates, wanting to differentiate without hassle.
• Risk: a Tesla Model 3 with 10% battery can add 60 kWh in one charge. At €0.20/kWh, that’s €12. If it happens twice during the stay, €24 you absorb.
• Recommendation: increase the nightly rate by €5-€10 and include charging. No complaints, and you avoid complicated calculations.

Model 2: Flat rate per night or stay

"Unlimited charging: €8/night" or "Full charge pack: €20/stay".

• When does it make sense: medium stays (3-5 nights), clear extra income.
• Pros: easy to communicate, no meters, no disputes.
• Cons: some guests may feel they pay too much if they only charge once.

Model 3: Charging based on actual kWh consumed

Install a wallbox with a meter (most modern ones have it) and charge the exact consumption plus a small margin.

• Approximate price: €0.30-€0.40 per kWh (your electricity costs €0.15-€0.25, margin covers wear and management).
• When does it make sense: long stays, powerful wallbox, frequent guests who charge a lot.
• Pros: fair for both parties.
• Cons: you need to read the meter, send an invoice, manage extra payment.

If your wallbox has an app with users, you can let guests see their real-time consumption. This prevents disputes.

Important tax note: income from electric car charging is an additional income from your tourism activity. It must be declared. It’s not "black money" or a favor. If you charge separately, invoice it. If included in the price, it’s already accounted for.

What you need to know before installing a wallbox

It’s not just buying the device and plugging it in. Several issues to consider.

Community permission (if in an apartment building)

Since 2013, law allows you to install a charging point in your parking space without community approval. You just need to notify them. But this can cause friction. Best approach:

1. Notify the administrator in writing before installing.
2. Pay for the entire installation (cabling, protections, individual meter).
3. Never use the building’s common consumption. It must go to your meter or a new exclusive one.

Contracted power

A 7.4 kW wallbox requires your supply to support that demand when appliances, air conditioning, etc., are running. If you have only 4.6 kW contracted, the RCD trips frequently.

Usually, increase to at least 7-9 kW. This raises your fixed bill by about €10-€20 per month.

Legal installation

Installation must be performed by an authorized installer and a certified electrical report submitted. Doing it yourself or with an acquaintance is illegal, and insurance won’t cover damages. Don’t fall for the myth "it’s just a plug".

Public aid

The MOVES III Plan subsidized the installation of charging points up to 70% for individuals and businesses. In 2025-2026, calls are still open in several autonomous communities. Check if your region has an active program before installing. You could save €500-€1,000.

How to communicate this in your listing

Having it is one thing; making sure guests know is another. Three must-do steps:

1. Activate the "electric vehicle charging point" filter on Airbnb, Booking, and Vrbo. Set it in the amenities section.
2. Photograph the wallbox and upload it to your gallery. Show the model, parking space, access.
3. Specify in the description:
   • Model and power of the wallbox.
   • Connector type (Type 2 is the European standard).
   • Cost of charging (included / per kWh / flat rate).
   • Whether it’s in a covered private space or outside.

Example: "Wallbox Pulsar Plus 7.4 kW (Type 2) in covered private parking. Charging included in the stay. Ideal for Tesla, Volkswagen ID, Hyundai Ioniq, and any European electric."

This phrase increases bookings. I’ve seen it many times.

Common mistakes that cost you money

• Promising charging and it doesn’t work: nothing worse than a guest arriving with 5% battery and discovering the wallbox has been out of service for a week. Check monthly.
• Not specifying connector type: in Europe, it’s Type 2 (Mennekes). Using an old Schuko or Type 1 (Japanese/American) prevents European guests from charging.
• Charging more than a public electric gas station: €0.60/kWh when Ionity costs €0.50-€0.70 and a municipal public charger €0.30 makes guests feel scammed.
• Unclear who pays in case of failure: if the wallbox breaks during the stay, guests want to know what happens. Have a plan.
• Leaving old Schuko socket charging for days: real fire risk. Not a joke. Houses have burned down because of this.

What if you live in a rural or coastal area without public chargers

This is where you have the most margin. In interior or coastal areas far from highways, public chargers are scarce. An electric guest going to Cazorla, Picos de Europa, or an Andalusian white village needs to charge where they sleep.

If you are the only accommodation with a wallbox within 30 km, you can:

• Charge 15-25% more than competitors.
• Fill low season with weekend getaways.
• Attract repeat guests (they already know they can charge).

It’s a real competitive advantage, not just a decoration. If your area fits, also review strategies to fill your vacation rental in low season because this guest profile travels a lot outside summer.

Impact on bookings and price

No official Spanish study, but data from European operators (Hostaway, Rentals United) and my experience:

• Visibility: appearing in the "EV charger" filter places you in a search pool where competition is 10-20 times lower in rural areas and 3-5 times lower in cities.
• Price: you can charge €5-€15 more per night if communicated well.
• Occupancy: in low season, electric travelers tend to travel more than combustion engine travelers (lower travel costs). You gain nights in October-March.
• Return on investment: a €1,500 wallbox pays off in 1-2 years with just 20-30 extra nights or €5 more per night over 300 nights.

How Autoregistro fits in

Whether or not you have a wallbox, guests keep arriving. You must register them in SES Hospedajes. Autoregistro sends the check-in form to the guest, who fills in their details via mobile, and the info goes directly to SES without manual input. €1 per property per month. Less than your morning coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install a wallbox if I rent an apartment that isn’t mine?

No. Installation requires ownership of the parking space or explicit written permission from the owner. If subletting, review the legal conditions of subleasing.

Do I need a special license to charge for electricity?

No. As long as it’s an accessory service to your accommodation (like breakfast or parking), it’s billed as part of your tourism activity. It would be different if you wanted to set up a commercial public charging point, which does require registration as an operator.

What if the guest damages the wallbox?

Same as if they break an appliance: it’s covered by the deposit or the platform’s insurance. Take photos of the wallbox at check-in and check-out, and mention it in the property inventory.

Can I install multiple wallboxes if I have several parking spaces?

Yes, but each needs its own permit and may require a significant increase in contracted power. If managing multiple properties, usually one per property is best. If all this seems complicated, see how manage multiple holiday homes without dying trying.

What if the power goes out during charging?

The car and wallbox are designed to stop safely. It doesn’t damage the car or the charger. When power returns, most models resume automatically.