Installation of Charging Stations in Hotels: Technical and Regulatory Requirements

Offering electric vehicle charging is no longer just a courtesy “extra,” but an increasingly important factor in business and travel customers’ choice of accommodation, as well as a factor that can contribute to the quality of their experience and their reviews on booking sites.

For owners and operators of hotels and lodging facilities, however, planning the installation requires a clear understanding of legal requirements, design choices, and operational efficiency.

1. Preliminary Assessment of the Structure

Before laying any cables, it is essential to conduct a feasibility study that takes into account:

• Type of parking: covered (garage/underground) or uncovered, private or public.
• Guest parking profile: overnight parking (for hotel guests) or short-term parking (transit/restaurant/spa for non-hotel guests).
• Residual electrical capacity: analysis of the facility's load curve and available contracted power.

A proper initial assessment makes it possible to design an infrastructure that is tailored to the facility’s actual needs and prepared for any future expansions.

2. How much electrical power do you really need?

The amount of power required depends on the type of stations selected and whether they are used simultaneously.

Legal Requirement (Italy)

In Italy, the requirements for the planning and installation of charging infrastructure stem primarily from Legislative Decree 48/2020, which transposed Directive (EU) 2018/844 (EPBD II), as well as from the national regulatory framework governing infrastructure for alternative fuels.

• Existing non-residential buildings (offices, hotels, shopping centers): The regulations establish minimum electrification requirements for parking lots with more than 20 parking spaces. Furthermore, European legislation (the EPBD Directive) calls for a gradual increase in electrification requirements for parking lots: Italy’s implementation of the new regulations will establish the applicable obligations and related deadlines, which must be assessed in accordance with the legislation in effect at the time of the project.
• New Construction and Major Renovations: For new non-residential buildings or those undergoing major renovations with at least 10 parking spaces, it is mandatory to install at least one charging station and ensure that the necessary infrastructure (cable ducts, piping, space for electrical panels) is in place to allow for the future installation of additional charging stations.

Specific exemptions and exclusions identified by the regulations apply and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To ensure proper compliance with these requirements, it is always advisable to consult with a licensed electrical engineer and verify any supplementary regional or municipal regulations.

For a standard hotel (30–50 rooms), a common initial configuration includes:

• 2–4 charging stations ( AC ) for overnight guests;
• Possibly one fast-charging station at DC (direct current) if the hotel has an outdoor restaurant or is located near major transportation hubs.

This configuration is intended as a design guideline and does not replace the verification of the legal requirements described above, which depend on the number of parking spaces, the type of construction project, and applicable regulations. The ideal configuration must, in any case, be determined through a technical analysis of the site.

3. Choosing the technology: AC or DC?

AC charging is generally the most suitable solution for hotels because it takes advantage of guests’ longer stays. DC charging, on the other hand, can be a strategic option for facilities with high daily foot traffic, services open to the public, or locations near major thoroughfares.

4. Permits, Safety, and Fire Department Regulations

Regulatory compliance is essential to ensure the safety and protection of the operator.

Electrical Regulations

• CEI EN 61851 and CEI 64-8, Section 722: These standards govern charging systems for electric vehicles, defining the requirements for isolation, residual current protection, grounding, and charging modes.
• Ministerial Decree 37/2008: requires that the installation be performed by a licensed installer, who must issue the Declaration of Conformity (DiCo) for the system upon completion of the work.

Fire Prevention and Fire Department Guidelines

If the hotel’s parking facility is subject to Fire Department inspections (for example, covered parking garages with an area greater than 300 m² or establishments such as hotels with parking garages), the installations must comply with the guidelines set forth in Fire Department Circular No. 2 of November 5, 2018.

In parking garages subject to fire department inspections, installations must comply with applicable regulations; in practice, dedicated Mode 3 charging infrastructure (wallbox or charging station with a cable or specific outlet) is the solution typically adopted. The assessment must be conducted on a case-by-case basis, depending on the characteristics of the parking facility (covered/uncovered, area, presence of fire hydrants) and the existing systems.

5. Implementation and Management Models: Why Direct Management Can Be a Risk

Installing the charging stations is just the first step: the real challenge lies in the day-to-day management of the service. Providing charging services means taking on the responsibility for 24/7 operations, tax regulations, and ongoing maintenance.

Direct management (do-it-yourself): a complex operational and bureaucratic burden

Under self-management, the hotel collects payments directly, but must handle a complex operational structure:

• 24/7 Customer Support: Directly handle guest emergencies at any time (e.g., cable stuck in the connector, app frozen, payment error).
• Tax and regulatory compliance: requirement to report and electronically transmit revenue to the Italian Revenue Agency (“Server Energia” service), accounting management of revenue, and responsibility for the system’s compliance.
• Maintenance and roaming: costs for emergency repairs, software updates, and contracts with external platforms to ensure the charging station appears on navigation maps.
  

Model managed by a CPO (e.g., Powy): the “turnkey” solution

Partnering with a Charging Point Operator (CPO) allows the hotel to offer an industrial-grade service without any operational burden:

• Investment and associated risks: The CPO is responsible for design, permitting, installation, and routine and major maintenance.
• Revenue Opportunities (Revenue Sharing): Depending on the partnership model chosen, the facility can monetize its infrastructure by sharing the revenue generated from top-ups, transforming a complimentary service into a new source of income.
• Tax management and 24/7 outsourced services: The operator handles invoicing, reports revenue to the Italian Revenue Agency, and provides a 24-hour multilingual call center for guests.
• Full interoperability: The stations are automatically added to the world’s leading charging networks (Google Maps, industry apps, international roaming), attracting new customers.

6. Checklist of Requirements for Hoteliers

• [ ] Parking Space Mapping: The most suitable area was identified by evaluating the distance from the electrical panel and the characteristics of the parking lot.
• [ ] Contractual power verification: historical consumption data and seasonal peaks analyzed.
• [ ] Fire Safety Inspection: Compliance with applicable fire prevention requirements has been verified.
• [ ] Internet connectivity: Verify that 4G/5G or Wi-Fi coverage is available in the installation area.
• [ ] Business model: Determine whether to offer charging for free, include it in the stay, or charge for it, based in part on the partnership terms agreed upon with the CPO.
• [ ] Future scalability: The possibility of increasing the number of charging stations in the coming years has been evaluated.

7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many charging stations should a hotel install initially?

As a design guideline, many facilities initially allocate approximately 5–10% of the hotel’s total parking spaces for EV charging, while also ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place to increase the number of charging points over the next 2–3 years without having to reopen construction sites. In addition to this design guideline, any minimum legal requirements for installation and setup—which depend on the number of parking spaces and the type of building—must always be met.

Who pays for the energy consumed by guests' cars?

Under direct management, the hotel pays its energy supplier and decides independently how to charge guests for energy (or whether to provide it free of charge). If, on the other hand, management is entrusted to a CPO, the end user generally pays for charging directly to the operator via an app or other payment channels. The management of energy costs is contractually defined between the hotel and the CPO and may include, for example, a dedicated meter or mechanisms for reimbursement of consumption and revenue sharing.

What happens if a charging station breaks down or a guest has a problem during the night?

In direct management, the responsibility for unplugging a cable or resolving a payment failure falls on the on-site staff or the front desk (who are often not trained to handle technical electrical issues). By relying on a CPO, the property is completely relieved of this burden: guests have access to a toll-free number with multilingual telephone support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition, the CPO monitors the terminals remotely in real time, resolving most software issues remotely before the guest even notices them.

Is it always necessary to request an increase in the hotel's meter capacity?

Not necessarily. A qualified CPO first conducts a feasibility study, analyzing the facility’s load curve and the available electrical power. In addition, they can integrate intelligent load management systems (Dynamic Load Management), which adjust the power allocated to charging in real time based on the hotel’s energy consumption. This prevents overloads during periods of peak energy demand (such as when air conditioning systems or kitchens are in operation), reducing the risk of power outages and, in most cases, limiting or eliminating the need for costly increases in contracted power capacity.

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About Powy

Powy a company that owns, develops, and manages Italy's leading independent network of public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Founded in Turin, Italy in 2018, Powy is at the center of the transition to more sustainable mobility, offering an innovative charging infrastructure that uses only 100 percent renewable energy.

Powy 's network includes quick, fast, and ultra-fast charging solutions strategically placed in public and private parking lots, supermarkets, shopping malls, and transportation hubs to ensure maximum convenience and accessibility for EV drivers. Each station is equipped with advanced technologies to provide a reliable and efficient charging experience.

Learn more: wpowy.energy