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If the costs are what has been suggested the I would go for it, op... Probably less about what you actually did or didn't do but more about what your customers say on social Meeja about what you did or didn't do... Managing your reputation type of thing...
In Austria there are charging stations in the villages and in a lot of mountain huts. They have leads for all of the different systems as far as I know
‘Or install an electric car charger. Most of them include a standard 3-pin socket, so could be used for bikes.’
My business has installed 200+ electric car chargers in the last year in commercial environments and not one has a 3 pin socket.....
Still, worth delaying til you know whether your insurance covers them. Someone walks in with a £600 battery, and then comes back a week later complaining your charging point killed it - Or if the batteries are unattended somewhere at a charge "station" and they get stolen?
I'd do the UKIP "blame Health and Safety in some ambiguous, ill informed guise" til I sorted out proper charing facilities - and then advertise the service!
did or didn’t do but more about what your customers say on social Meeja about what you did or didn’t do
Well aware of that, which is why I'll do as I said on previous post......not worth the hassle and as I said I wasn't aware of 'issue' until customers had left. Seemed a bit of a 'flounce off' so not really that bothered as everyone else today has been more than happy.
I was charged a fiver recently to charge my battery at a bike shop. I used my own charger. I asked, was given permission, plugged it in myself. It was when I returned to collect it that the £5 charge was mentioned. I thought it was a bit steep, but was in no position to argue at that point, but it did put me off noseying around the shop with my wallet in my pocket...
A lesson learned for me.
but was in no position to argue at that point
I wouldn’t have paid. They have to tell you up front not after the fact.
When touring 2 years ago with boblo and mcmoonter a restaurant refused to charge my phone
They didn't get a tip, I can tell you!
That'll lairn them!
Sounds like you are due another trip Al. Wasn’t The Altguish Inn by any chance was it?
Did you lock your bike to the railings outside?
Signpost wasn't it?
Anyway, no I wouldn't expect it to be free. I'd expect either a cost up front or if buying food and drinks a suggestion of mountain rescue donation. There was a suggestion years ago that the lakes were going to try to set up a scheme.of ebikes and charging points in pubs/shops to reduce traffic. I'm guessing the "legislation" put a stop to it.
I'd have thought it makes sense to support it but with a £5 minimum spend attached as otherwise there's always some people that will walk in ask for free water and a charge and take up space. In reality being an attractive stopping point for presumably a very small number of people that want to charge an eBike mid-ride surely has to be a no-brainer? You're already letting wet/smelly/muddy cyclists in which has got to have a more negative impact than someone wanting 5p of electricity.
Or install an electric car charger. Most of them include a standard 3-pin socket, so could be used for bikes.
Most of them are tethered or untethered with a type2 socket, in fact I've never seen an electric car charger that also comes with a 3 pin socket, altho I don't doubt that the option might exist. Unless the OP owns an electric car they won't get an OLEV grant (altho other grants exist for businesses that want to offer EV charging), so it could end up quite expensive to buy and have installed. My Rolec untethered ev charger (without 3 pin option) cost £600 installed. Rolec also offer a separate outdoor 3 pin unit for electric mower, hedge trimmers etc that you could plug an ev into, if that's what you meant?, but that's just an IP rated outdoor 3 pin plug box.
Anyhow, as said, the electric will cost pence for the realistic length of time they'll stay around. Personally I wouldn't spend any money on the service tho, I'd just offer the 3 pin sockets. Assuming they're buying coffee and cafe. Maybe with a disclaimer in case your 'various electrical problems we've had lately' kills their battery
I've moved on from two hotels which couldn't provide a normal three-pin plug to charge Zoé. It wasn't a question of spite or having a huff, I just needed a full battery the next day and it was more convenient to find a B&B/hotel that would provide a charge than sitting on a public charger for an hour and half the next morning.
I always offer to pay telling them how many Kwh I'll be drawing but no-one has ever charged. Some people have made quite an effort, freeing off a parking place near a socket or giving us access to an unoccupied room to use a convenient socket.