Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 34

* * * HEALTHY WORLD
Add 'EV Charging'
to Your Checklist
For drive-to venues, here's what to know
BY GARY DIEDRICHS
re meeting professionals part of the
global warming problem, or are they
part of the solution? The very question
is kind of a gobsmacker, isn't it? Working
to mount ever more environmentally friendly
meetings and events has been an industry
priority. Yet in one area-transportation-we're
still a big red flag.
You already know why. The two main modes
of transport our attendees use to come to our
increasingly green meetings are huge carbon
emitters. Airplanes contribute about 4% to
human-induced global warming, according to
recent research-which is more than most countries
do.
A
Our personal vehicles have had no better story
to tell: " Collectively, cars and trucks account for
nearly one-fifth of all U.S. emissions, emitting
around 24 pounds of carbon dioxide and other
global-warming gasses for every gallon of gas.
About five pounds comes from the extraction,
production and delivery of the fuel, while the
great bulk of heat-trapping emissions-more
than 19 pounds per gallon-comes right out
of a car's tailpipe. " That's from the Union of
Concerned Scientists.
Yet change is undeniably on the road. By
2030, some 300 million electric cars will be
driving us to a greener future, forecasts the Net
Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, and they will
account for more than 60% of new car sales
(compared to 4.6% in 2020). Today, over 10
million EVs are already in service globally. They
won't all be Teslas. Every major carmaker is
heading for an electrified horizon.
Now, that horizon is not without its smudgy
clouds. We'll also have to get rid of electric
power plants fired by fossil fuels (or, worse,
coal), and convert them to sourcing from the
renewable grid. But let's focus on what you can
do, and need to know.
Drive-to meetings have not been more popular
since the advent of air travel for business. This
summer, some attendees opted out of flying in
favor of road trips of up to a whole day's journey,
figuring this could be a much less frustrating time
commitment than the morass of flight cancellations
and schedule cutbacks. Continuing Covid
concerns about flying by some companies have
added to the popularity of the highway.
So, that means it's time to put EV chargers on
your venue checklist. And to know how to evaluate
the EV readiness of the venues you source.
The hotel brand that leads the way in chargers
worldwide is Holiday Inn, which has installed
them at nearly 800 locations. Most other hospitality
companies are following that lead. " In my
opinion, every new hotel either on the drawing
board or under construction should access the
[maximum] number of EV charging stations, not
only for today, but providing for the future, " Jim
Vogt, CEO of Mid-Cour EV Charge, a leading
provider of charging systems, recently told Green
Lodging News. " Many municipalities are beginning
to implement ordinances requiring all new
construction to provide for EV charging stations.
Included within the ordinance is a 'formula' that
determines the number of EV charging stations
that must be installed. "
A final word of advice: Promote the
ease and availability of EV chargers to
your prospective attendees. Data
shows EV drivers will be more
likely to make the trip.
EV Qs for RFPs
What is the number and type of chargers?
There are three standard charging types, the difference
being the speed of charging. All electric
cars can be charged with Level 1 and 2 stations.
Level 3 chargers (also known as DCFC or fast stations)
are much more powerful and quick.
Does the proposed venue have Tesla adapters
or will your attendees have to provide them?
Only Teslas can be charged at charging stations
the company has installed at many major hotels,
unless the non-Tesla (Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt or
whatever) uses an adapter.
Is there a fee for charging; if so, can you negotiate
it away?
Marriott International currently has more than
3,137 Level 2 charging stations installed at its
hotels, offers free charging at most locations, but
not all (only for members of the Bonvoy rewards
program). According to EV Roadtrips, charging
fees at hotels can range from $5-$30 a day. Tesla
chargers are always free, but not necessarily for
other brands using an adaptor for charging.
Will your attendees need to reserve charger
time?
This is happening more at major hotels as EVs
grow in popularity. One solution is for parking
valets to shuttle cars to chargers for 4-6
hours at a time.
" The two main modes of transport our attendees
use to come to our increasingly green meetings are
huge carbon emitters. "
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OCTOBER 2022 * s m a r t m e e t i n g s . c o m
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue

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