Vehicle charging on UK Club campsites
We have made changes to our additional fees for members who want to charge their electric or hybrid vehicles whilst on our UK Club campsites.
Read moreElectric vehicle charging facilities
Electric vehicle charging facilities
A simpler and fairer approach on Club campsites
You told us you wanted more on-site eco-friendly facilities to help support those of you who have already switched over to hybrid or electric vehicles. In February 2020 we started offering on-pitch hybrid and electric vehicle charging by plugging in your vehicle via your outfit (not directly into the bollard) across the majority of our Club campsites. Since then, ownership of such vehicles has increased along with the cost of electricity. Having reviewed consumption and usage over the period, the Club feels that it is fairer that electric and hybrid vehicle users pay a single fee of £9 a day to charge their vehicles via their outfit.
The Frequently Asked Questions section is available below to help guide you. Remember, If you wish to charge your vehicle from pitch, then please speak to our staff either upon arrival, or during your stay and let them know how many charges you wish to make. They will then be able to take payment from you.
Dedicated EV charging facilities (select and pay for the exact amount required). We listened to your feedback and we’re excited to announce that we've now introduced, five level 2 electric vehicle charging stations at Cayton Village Club Campsite^, in North Yorkshire and also level 2 charging spaces near reception due soon at Coniston Park Coppice Club campsite in the Lake District and Black Knowl Club Campsite in the New Forest.
We are continuing to future proof our Club as hybrid and electric vehicle ownership grows, and are committed to providing the simplest and fairest way to charge vehicles on-site across our Club campsite network.
Frequently asked questions
Why have you decided to start asking guests to pay to charge their electric/ hybrid vehicle on pitch?
We started asking guests to pay to charge their electric or hybrid vehicle in February 2020 as we had seen a rise in guests converting to electric/hybrid vehicles, and as electricity is provided on pitch, some guests have chosen to charge their vehicle from them.
Since this time ownership has grown significantly and as electricity prices increase this is putting increased pressure on the sites network.
We feel that it is fairer to all members that electric/hybrid vehicle users pay a fee to charge their vehicles via their outfit, not via the bollard as they are drawing more power than guests who do not own these types of cars.
When does this take effect from?
Charges were introduced in February 2020, and price increases are being implemented from 5 April 2022 due to the pressure on electricity costs experienced by domestic and commercial customers across the UK.
How can I pay to charge my car?
If you wish to charge your vehicle via your outfit whilst on the pitch, then please speak to our staff either upon arrival, or during your stay and let them know how many charges you wish to make. They will then be able to take payment from you.
Which sites/pitches is this applicable to?
This is available at all Club owned sites except Steamer Quay. Any pitch that has an electric hook up bollard included can be used to charge an electric/hybrid car. Please note that Cayton Village and Black Knowl have specific EV charging points installed in the car park and these will be charged at the prevailing rate at the time. Coniston Park Coppice is to be installed during 2022.
What restrictions do you have when charging vehicles?
To ensure that you charge safely, we ask that you keep both habitation and car charging demand to a reasonable usage level and that you plug the car into a mains socket within your outfit, not directly into the bollard.
What if I don't know how many times I want to charge my car during my stay?
That's ok, just come and let us know when you do know, or come and see us after you have charged if you prefer. The site's staff can take payment at any time when the reception is open.
How much will I need to pay to charge my car?
Hybrid cars and Electric cars are charged the same rate of £9 per charge (this is worked out on the assumption a car is plugged in overnight, via your outfit, drawing a maximum of 2.3kw, which is the same regardless of the car type)
How did you decide your electric vehicle charging rates if you are not metering?
The pence per unit charge which the Club currently pays is significantly higher than domestic rates. We can’t quote the exact figure as this is commercially sensitive information. It is also a common misconception that larger electricity users like a Club Campsite must pay less per unit than a small user like a domestic house. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Different vehicles with different capacity batteries (and indeed states of charge) would require different amounts of power to recharge. Ideally, we would prefer to meter and charge for the exact power used, and it remains our intention to move to that principle when the onsite technology to deliver a good user experience for members is available. At present, we have not found an available solution that does exactly what we believe members would want, especially in the rural settings of many of our sites where wi-fi and even broadband internet connections are not always guaranteed. However, we continue to engage with the infrastructure providers as their systems evolve, and hope to test and trial a system very soon.
It’s unfair to directly compare domestic charge rates with those available via any commercial public charging facility (which is in effect what the Club is offering). These will typically charge (if metering charging) at a higher unit price (typically £0.40 to £0.60p per kWh) than domestic rates (typically £0.28 p per kWh - March 2022). Several commercial suppliers have also launched their charging facilities with flat fee rates, or membership rates, and later changed to metered rates as their infrastructure develops. With the present instability of electrical pricing, we are forced to monitor and react as these large changes are passed through, in exactly the same way charge point suppliers are also doing.
How quickly will my car charge?
This depends on the car and its battery size, however we expect a charge of no more than 2.3kW is feasible or sensible to be taken via your outfit. This will likely fully charge a hybrid vehicle and give a useful top up for a fully electric vehicle.
If you need a fast charge or to fully charge an electric vehicle we recommend you go off site to a local charging station.