IHG (InterContinental Hotel Groups) says it’s the first hotel company in Australia to build an electric car charging network, connecting eight properties across the group.
Five IHG properties across New South Wales – including Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach, Crowne Plaza Terrigal, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Holiday Inn Sydney Airport and Holiday Inn Old Sydney – will launch EV charging points in their property car parks or forecourts, installed in partnership with Better Place.
The five IHG hotels join the Australian government’s AUS$100m (US$101.8m) Smart Grid, Smart City trial taking place in Sydney, Newcastle and the Upper Hunter, led by Ausgrid. The 20 electric cars participating in the Smart Grid, Smart City trial will have free access to the Better Place charge spots at the hotels. Existing Better Place customers will also be able to use the charging points in paid parking bays at the properties.
The hotel chargers deliver approximately 20-25km (12 miles plus) of range per hour for up to two vehicles at a time. Better Place buys only 100% GreenPower for its network.
The new NSW hotel charge spots follow previous installations at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne, Crowne Plaza Canberra and the National Convention Centre Canberra as part of a national Australian agreement between IHG and Better Place.
IHG is one of Better Place’s ‘Network Foundation Members’ in the Australian market. Its announcement of its installation of charging points coincided with Better Place’s Australian boss Evan Thornley replacing founder Shai Agassi as the global organisation’s Chief Executive Officer.
