EV Electricity at MVC Resorts [MERGED]

[Superchief]

I find that most MVC resorts I've stayed at recently have EV charging stations. I have noticed costs to install these stations usually come from our reserves in the maintenance fees, and are typically listed in the annual budget meeting minutes. I think it is appropriate for owners to pay for the installment of the chargers because they become a valuable asset at the resorts. How is the electricity paid for? Is it charged to the car owner when they charge their vehicles?

Some of the locations for the EV charging stations don't make a lot of sense. There are two charging stations in the registration parking area at Canyon Villas, so now there are only 4 parking spaces for regular guests. I suggest the charging stations be located in the more remote parking areas since people should only park there while charging.

 

[Passepartout]

This post should be placed where more users will see it. We have found EV chargers at non-MVC resorts as well. I absolutely agree that they are- and will increasingly be- valuable assets to resorts, businesses, and even to promote liveability and salability of private homes. The question of 'who pays' can vary widely due to local ordinances and promotions. For instance, at Arroyo Grande in Sedona, there are two level 2 chargers in the parking lot that serves the offices/clubhouse/restaurant area. It isn't convenient to the condos. They were placed by the local power company, Arizona Public Service (iirc), who pays for the electricity- they're free to the users who ask at the desk for them to be turned on. Other publicly accessible chargers have been placed and funded by the Volkswagen 'Dieselgate' lawsuit to mitigate the environmental damage from their dirty diesel engined cars.

I've found EV chargers at the Sun Valley resort in Idaho and we are able to plug in (level 1) at Timbers Resort in Island Park. Slow, but free.

We were directed to a couple of free level 2 chargers at a Wyndam TS (can't remember which one) in Las Vegas on Paradise road. They were near the sales room, so I suspect that during business hours the salesweasels are using them.

At most commercial charging stations, the user is billed, either by the time they are plugged in or by the amount of power (KW) their EV takes.

Sorry to take this away from the exclusivity of MVC, but the availability of EV charging and the ability of timeshare users who travel by EV is not just at MVC resorts.

Jim

 

[kanerf]

At Patriot's Place (Wyndham) in Williamsburg, VA there are two Level 2 Chargers that initially were free, but now you have to stop by the desk and have them turned on and you get charged for usage. I forgot the fee, but it is around $1 an hour or so.

 

[rboesl]

I am surprised these are Level 2 chargers. It would make more sense if they were Level 3. That way the usage would be more short term as most cars could be fully charged in less than 1 hour.

 

[Passepartout]

I am surprised these are Level 2 chargers. It would make more sense if they were Level 3. That way the usage would be more short term as most cars could be fully charged in less than 1 hour.

Level 3 (440v) is much more expensive to set up, and not all EVs can accept it.

We're talking convenience here for resort visitors, not high speed charging for transient travelers. Those are better placed near highways.

 

[Superchief]

I noticed 2 EV chargers in the parking lot near the Ocean Dunes building at Surf Watch, and assume they have similar ones adjacent to the other buildings. These appeared to be 2 different types. I didn't see anyone use them during my stay, but the parking spaces were frequently occupied by non-EV vehicles due to the garage being partially closed for construction.

 

[kanerf]

The level 1 and 2 are AC, so standard line power. The level 3 ones are DC and there are at least 3 different kinds of connectors, so not a good choice for a timeshare.

 

[jwalk03]

I noticed them a Lakeshore Reserve right outside our building. I never saw them in use and have no idea what the charge would have been to use them.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

I am surprised these are Level 2 chargers. It would make more sense if they were Level 3. That way the usage would be more short term as most cars could be fully charged in less than 1 hour.

And, you would need fewer charging stations........



.

 

[kimbapooch]

I found two chargers at Crystal Shores. There may be more, it's a huge garage. One was J-1772 level 2 and one was Tesla. They were free to use for guests.

 

[frank808]

At MKO there are two Level 2 chargers in each garage. Only accessible to guests and no charge to use them.

Sent from my SM-T290 using Tapatalk

 

[Dean]

I found two chargers at Crystal Shores. There may be more, it's a huge garage. One was J-1772 level 2 and one was Tesla. They were free to use for guests.

Those were the only ones at the resort when we were there just over a year ago.

 

[dioxide45]

I am not sure I have ever seen a vehicle in one of these spaces while at a MVC property. Even when we went to Palm Desert, where I thought I would see at least one being utilized, they were all empty. There were quite a few spaces at DSVI and DSVII with EV chargers. I would suspect and hope that the resorts are installing these with some type of tax credit and/or some other entity paying for them. For as many Teslas that I see on the roads around here in Florida, it doesn't seem like any of them are ever at timeshares when we are.

 

[kimbapooch]

I am not sure I have ever seen a vehicle in one of these spaces while at a MVC property. Even when we went to Palm Desert, where I thought I would see at least one being utilized, they were all empty. There were quite a few spaces at DSVI and DSVII with EV chargers. I would suspect and hope that the resorts are installing these with some type of tax credit and/or some other entity paying for them. For as many Teslas that I see on the roads around here in Florida, it doesn't seem like any of them are ever at timeshares when we are.

My Tesla has been to Crystal Shores, BeachPlace Towers, Oceana Palms and Ocean Pointe in the past 4 months. Only at Crystal Shores did I see a charger. I saw Teslas at all of them.

 

[Superchief]

As owners, does anyone else think that the charger users should pay for the cost of the electricity? The electricity cost is likely low in most non-Western MVC resorts today but will likely become a bigger issue, especially as electricity rates are rapidly increasing.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

As owners, does anyone else think that the charger users should pay for the cost of the electricity? The electricity cost is likely low in most non-Western MVC resorts today but will likely become a bigger issue, especially as electricity rates are rapidly increasing.

That's an interesting question. Does Marriott pay for your gasoline when leaving a Marriott Resort if you have a gasoline dependent car? They don't so I don't see why the Resort (i.e. common area maintenance fees) should pay for energy for Electric Vehicles.

On the other hand, if the Marriott Resorts don't offer EV Charging Stations then will potential Marriott customers not come, or go elsewhere?

This EV thing is relatively new, and a lot of the various kinks will have to be worked out over time..... I think right now new EV sales are 1% of the automobile market, but 13 years from now projected EV sales will likely be 99% of the 2035 market. There will be growing pains for sure!




.

 

[Superchief]

That's an interesting question. Does Marriott pay for your gasoline when leaving a Marriott Resort if you have a gasoline dependent car? They don't so I don't see why the Resort (i.e. common area maintenance fees) should pay for energy for Electric Vehicles.

On the other hand, if the Marriott Resorts don't offer EV Charging Stations then will potential Marriott customers not come, or go elsewhere?

This EV thing is relatively new, and a lot of the various kinks will have to be worked out over time..... I think right now new EV sales are 1% of the automobile market, but 13 years from now projected EV sales will likely be 99% of the 2035 market. There will be growing pains for sure!




.

I don't have a problem with using MF's to help pay to install the charging station, but think users should pay for what electricity they use. Although I think EV's will become much more prevalent in the future, I'm not convinced they will represent 99% of the market by 2035 due to too many problems and unknowns.

 

[Dean]

As owners, does anyone else think that the charger users should pay for the cost of the electricity? The electricity cost is likely low in most non-Western MVC resorts today but will likely become a bigger issue, especially as electricity rates are rapidly increasing.

I'm OK either way. To me it depends largely on how easy it would be to do so vs just rolling those costs into the overall energy usage for the resort. What I wouldn't want is a situation where those owners or guests are being taken advantage of by being over charged for the service.

 

[frank808]

The EV stations here at MKO are always busy. I usually have to move my electric car into EV stall when one becomes available.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

 

[jwalk03]

That's an interesting question. Does Marriott pay for your gasoline when leaving a Marriott Resort if you have a gasoline dependent car? They don't so I don't see why the Resort (i.e. common area maintenance fees) should pay for energy for Electric Vehicles.

On the other hand, if the Marriott Resorts don't offer EV Charging Stations then will potential Marriott customers not come, or go elsewhere?

This EV thing is relatively new, and a lot of the various kinks will have to be worked out over time..... I think right now new EV sales are 1% of the automobile market, but 13 years from now projected EV sales will likely be 99% of the 2035 market. There will be growing pains for sure!

I can't fathom that projection being accurate unless EV gets a whole lot cheaper, and the batteries get significantly longer ranges than today.

 

[Dean]

I can't fathom that projection being accurate unless EV gets a whole lot cheaper, and the batteries get significantly longer ranges than today.

GM has projected to be all EV by that year and Ford has given similar plans. Whether it'll happen by then is doubtful but things are certainly moving that direction.

 

[Passepartout]

I don't have a problem with using MF's to help pay to install the charging station, but think users should pay for what electricity they use. Although I think EV's will become much more prevalent in the future, I'm not convinced they will represent 99% of the market by 2035 due to too many problems and unknowns.

Do you see anything that shows that annual MFs are used to install chargers? I think the VAST majority of EV chargers are put in by for-profit enterprises, that actually PAY for sites to install them. A $billion came from Volkswagen. Any charger that's labeled 'ChargeAmerica' was sited by that entity. As mentioned upthread, Arizona Public Service is installing- and providing the power as an incentive for people to buy EVs. Other companies offer charging stations, and pay the places that provide the space a percentage of the fees that users are charged.

A condo association where we have a unit is in negotiation for several EV charging spaces in our garage. The HOA will derive profit from them. Owners will have a phone app that they use to activate the charger when they are plugged in, then power is billed to that account. When the car is charged, the app notifies the owner to remove the car from the charger and if it isn't moved after a short time (10-15 min) a per-minute parking fee is added to the automatically debited- or charged bill. It keeps the charging spaces available for the most users.

Looking to the future, and a prevalence of EVs, one problem we see is non-EVs hogging charging spaces (it's called ICEing). I don't have an answer, short of towing, ticketing, or putting nasty notes under the wipers. I know it's a problem from having to circle parking lots and seeing trucks and trailers blocking multiple EV chargers. Grrrr.

Jim

 

[SueDonJ]

As owners, does anyone else think that the charger users should pay for the cost of the electricity? The electricity cost is likely low in most non-Western MVC resorts today but will likely become a bigger issue, especially as electricity rates are rapidly increasing.

Not unless they start line-item charging of every other on-property amenity. We don’t use the indoor pools and I imagine the electricity cost for those far exceeds the EV charging stations? Don’t use the indoor activities areas either, or the owner lounges/hospitality suites. We do use electricity for TV’s/Wi-fi and electronic gadgets but TUG has taught me that many vacationers unplug, so should I be charged a surcharge and they be reimbursed?

We don’t have an EV and I don’t know how much the electricity to run one costs. I suppose if it’s more than $25/week during a typical timeshare stay, and the chargers can be outfitted with pay-as-you-go meters like the vacuums at car washes, then I’d be okay with that.

 

[dioxide45]

As owners, does anyone else think that the charger users should pay for the cost of the electricity? The electricity cost is likely low in most non-Western MVC resorts today but will likely become a bigger issue, especially as electricity rates are rapidly increasing.

It will depend on if the electricity charge goes back to the resort. In some cases, I am sure the driver is paying for the electricity through some app. Many chargers I see have a QR code on them. It is also possible that the entity that installed the charger also pays for the electricity for them. I wouldn't really want the HOA to be footing the bill, but right now it probably doesn't even amount to 1% of the total budget.

 

[Superchief]

Do you see anything that shows that annual MFs are used to install chargers? I think the VAST majority of EV chargers are put in by for-profit enterprises, that actually PAY for sites to install them. A $billion came from Volkswagen. Any charger that's labeled 'ChargeAmerica' was sited by that entity. As mentioned upthread, Arizona Public Service is installing- and providing the power as an incentive for people to buy EVs. Other companies offer charging stations, and pay the places that provide the space a percentage of the fees that users are charged.

A condo association where we have a unit is in negotiation for several EV charging spaces in our garage. The HOA will derive profit from them. Owners will have a phone app that they use to activate the charger when they are plugged in, then power is billed to that account. When the car is charged, the app notifies the owner to remove the car from the charger and if it isn't moved after a short time (10-15 min) a per-minute parking fee is added to the automatically debited- or charged bill. It keeps the charging spaces available for the most users.

Looking to the future, and a prevalence of EVs, one problem we see is non-EVs hogging charging spaces (it's called ICEing). I don't have an answer, short of towing, ticketing, or putting nasty notes under the wipers. I know it's a problem from having to circle parking lots and seeing trucks and trailers blocking multiple EV chargers. Grrrr.

Jim

I saw budget items on the NCV annual meeting notes that indicated some of the reserves were spent on installing EV chargers. I had no problem with that because many guests in that area are likely to have EV's. I just think the electricity itself should be charged to those who use them, similar to us paying for our own gas.