IHG Establishes Australia's First Electric Car Network for Hotels

(SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA): IHG (InterContinental Hotel Groups) is the first hotel company in Australia to build an electric car charge network, connecting eight properties across the group with cutting-edge technology for a new and growing customer segment.

From today five IHG properties across New South Wales – including Crowne Plaza Coogee Beach, Crowne Plaza Terrigal, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, Holiday Inn Sydney Airport and Holiday Inn Old Sydney – will launch electric car (EV) charge spots in their property car parks or forecourts.

The charge spots have been installed in partnership with leading electric car charge network Better Place. Drivers can plug into the charge spots and top-up their battery whilst enjoying hotel facilities and event spaces.

The five IHG hotels join the Australian Government’s $100 million Smart Grid, Smart City trial taking place in Sydney, Newcastle and the Upper Hunter.

The 20 electric cars participating in the Smart Grid, Smart City trial will have free access to the Better Place charge spots at the hotels.

Existing Better Place customers will also be able to take advantage of the charge spots by using the paid parking facilities at the properties.

The hotel charge spots deliver approximately 20-25 km of range per hour, offering zero emissions charging for up to two electric cars at once. Better Place and IHG are able to provide zero emissions charging as Better Place purchases only 100% GreenPower for its network.

The new NSW hotel charge spots follow previous installations at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne, Crowne Plaza Canberra and the National Convention Centre Canberra as part of a national agreement between IHG and Better Place.

“IHG is committed to helping our guests make a positive contribution to environmental sustainability,” IHG Director of Sustainability, Australasia, Victoria Rose said.

“Reducing carbon emissions is not just a global issue; it’s a local issue too. Installing car charge spots for electric car drivers supports our commitment to sustainability and simultaneously helps to reduce pollution and emission levels in Australia,” Ms. Rose concluded.

Better Place General Manager, Guy Pross, said IHG is positively supporting the switch from petrol to electric driving.

“We’re delighted to be working with IHG on this leading initiative. On-site charging will help make IHG properties a destination address for electric car drivers, because it’s so easy and convenient for visitors, guests and delegates to park and plug in,” said Mr Pross.

“We applaud IHG’s efforts to help guests and visitors reduce their impact on the environment,” he said.

IHG is one of Better Place’s Network Foundation Members and the partnership is testament to IHG’s commitment to significantly reducing the consumption of natural resources across the company’s Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels.

Australian passenger cars contribute almost 10 per cent of Australia’s annual CO2 emissions. The mainstream adoption of electric cars can help to significantly reduce this figure, as every petrol car that is replaced with an electric vehicle powered by renewable energy can prevent between 4-6 tonnes of carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere each year.

The Australian Government’s Smart Grid, Smart City trial provides a testing ground for new energy supply technologies, gathering information about the benefits and costs of different smart grid technologies in Australia. It aims to create more efficient, intelligent electricity supply and prepare for more cars plugging into the grid in the future. The trial is led by Ausgrid.