Powering Up Your Property: Should You Offer EV Charging at Your Southern Tasmanian Holiday Home?

More travellers than eve  rare exploring our stunning coastline, wine regions, and wilderness in Electric Vehicles (EVs). But for holiday homeowners, this shifts an important question from the horizon right onto your driveway. Is it time to install a dedicated EVcharger?

At Retreats Tasmania, we take notice of guest search behaviour, regional infrastructure gaps, and booking trends to maximize returns for our owners. In this post, we’ll dive deep into the real benefits, practical considerations, and local nuances of adding EV charging to your short term rental property.

The ‘Range Anxiety’ Reality in Southern Tasmania

Tasmania is arguably the ultimate road trip destination, and its clean, 100% renewable energy grid makes it an idyllic match for eco-conscious EV drivers. However, while the highway network has decent fast charging coverage, Southern Tasmania - from the winding roads of the Tasman Peninsula down to the deep south of Cockle Creek - can still pose a logistical puzzle for electric motorists.

When guests spend their day driving 100km to explore Hastings Caves or Cape Pillar, the first thing they want to do when they return to their holiday home is plug in and relax. Providing ‘destination charging’ entirely eliminates range anxiety. It transforms your property from a simple place to stay into a critical piece of their travel itinerary.

100% Renewable: Tasmania's hydro and wind-powered grid allows you to market a truly green, zero-emission holiday experience.‍

Securing the High-Yield, High-Value Guest

EV owners represent a highly desirable demographic for short term rental hosts. Data consistently indicates that electric vehicle drivers skew toward a higher disposable income, travel frequently, and are highly protective of their vehicles. By offering a secure, reliable charging option, you aren't just attracting any guest, you are attracting premium travellers who are often willing to pay a nightly premium for convenience.

Furthermore, during our quieter winter shoulder season, having a dedicated EV charger can be the exact competitive edge that secures a midweek booking over a neighbouring property.

EV Charging is among the fastest growing search filters on Airbnb, Stayz, and Booking.com globally.‍

The Technicalities: Level 1 vs. Level 2 Chargers

When considering this upgrade, it's important to understand your options, as simple domestic setups can sometimes frustrate guests.

Level 1 (The Standard Wall Plug): Plugging a standard portable charger into a regular 10A outdoor socket. While technically possible, this charges incredibly slowly,  often taking 24 to 30 hours to fully replenish a modern EV battery. It also carries safety risks if your property’s wiring o outdoor sockets aren't rated for continuous high loads.

Level 2 (Dedicated Smart Wall box): A professionally installed 7kW to 22kW dedicated charger. A 7kW single-phase wall box can fully charge most vehicles overnight (in roughly 6 to 8 hours). This is the gold standard for holiday homes. It is fast, safe, visually appealing, and highly professional.

Managing Power Consumption and Charging Fees

A common concern we hear from property owners is ‘Won't my electricity bill skyrocket if guests are charging their cars for free?’

Fortunately, modern Level 2 smart chargers give you complete visibility and control. Through property management integration or standalone apps, you have options on how to handle the costs.

The ‘All-Inclusive’ Premium Model: You offer charging as a free amenity but adjust your nightly base rate slightly upward to absorb the utility cost. Given that a full vehicle charge typically costs between $12and $20 on standard Tasmanian domestic tariffs, a modest nightly rate bump easily covers this while maintaining a seamless guest experience.

The ‘Pay-As-You-Go’ Model: Using smart wall boxes (like a Wall box Pulsar or Myenergi Zappi), guests scan a QR code to pay for the exact kilowatt hours they consume, routing the revenue straight back to you. Alternatively, you can charge a flat nominal fee per stay.

Local Tasmanian Subsidies & Installation

Because keeping your asset protected and compliant is paramount, any installation must be handled by a licensed Tasmanian electrician. The good news is that installing a Level 2 charger can often be bundled into existing home electrical maintenance or solar upgrades, and it immediately adds long term capital value to your real estate asset.

The Verdict: Should You Do It?

If your holiday home is in a high density urban centre with public rapid chargers on every block, it’s a nice-to-have. If your property is situated in the breath taking regions of the Huon Valley, D’Entrecasteaux Channel, Tasman Peninsula, or the scenic outskirts of Greater Hobart, the answer is a resounding yes.

As major car rental fleets in Hobart rapidly transition to electric models, the demand for holiday homes with chargers will shift from a premium luxury to a baseline expectation within the next 24 months. Acting now allows you to capture this loyal market early and position your property as a forward thinking, eco-friendly destination.

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If you’d like to learn more about how our team at Retreats Tasmania supports owners — from management to guest experience — get in touch with us anytime.

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