Electric vehicles are becoming an increasingly common sight at caravan and camping parks across the UK. With more holidaymakers travelling by EV, having somewhere to charge is becoming an important consideration when choosing where to stay.

In August 2026, electric cars accounted for 29.8% of all new car registrations in the UK, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

For campsite owners, this presents an opportunity to attract more visitors. However, it also raises an important question: how are your guests charging their vehicles while staying with you?

If you're finding that guests are plugging their cars into your existing electric hook-up points, you could be paying for their charging without even realising it.

And the cost isn't the only thing you need to consider.

The hidden cost of EV charging through your electric hook-ups

Most caravan and camping parks provide electric hook-up points so guests can power their caravans, motorhomes and camping equipment during their stay.

When electricity is included in the pitch fee, guests can use their allocated supply without paying separately for every unit of electricity they consume.

However, charging an electric car can use considerably more electricity than the appliances typically used during a camping trip.

For example, a guest charging their EV through a standard three-pin socket at approximately 2.3kW could consume around 23kWh of electricity over ten hours.

At an illustrative electricity rate of 25p per kWh, that's £5.75 in electricity costs for a single overnight charge.

If several guests charge their vehicles throughout the week, those costs can quickly add up.

For parks offering electricity as part of their pitch fee, this additional consumption may not be accounted for in their pricing.

Without a separate meter or charging system, you could be providing guests with hundreds of pounds of electricity each season without receiving any additional revenue.

Can charging an EV trip your campsite's electrics?

Electric hook-up points are designed to provide a limited electrical supply to caravans and motorhomes.

The Camping and Caravanning Club explains that its campsite hook-ups typically have a maximum rating of 10A or 16A, with circuit breakers designed to protect the electrical supply against overloading.

An EV charging through a three-pin socket can draw around 10A continuously for several hours.

If a guest is charging their vehicle while also running appliances such as a kettle, heater or microwave from the same supply, the combined demand could exceed the circuit's capacity.

This can cause the circuit breaker to trip, cutting off the electricity supply.

Depending on your site's electrical setup, several guests charging their vehicles simultaneously could also place additional demand on your wider electrical infrastructure.

There are other safety considerations, too. EV charging involves a sustained electrical load, so the condition and suitability of sockets, cables and any adapters being used are important.

Not every electric hook-up arrangement is suitable for EV charging, particularly where equipment has not been assessed for that purpose.

A dedicated EV charger, installed following an assessment of your site's electrical capacity, provides a more appropriate way to accommodate guests who need to charge.

Is EV charging covered by your campsite insurance?

This is something every campsite owner should check with their insurer.

Your existing insurance policy may have been arranged on the basis that your electric hook-up points are used to supply caravans, motorhomes and camping equipment.

Allowing guests to charge electric vehicles could introduce additional considerations that weren't included in your original risk assessment or insurance arrangements.

That doesn't automatically mean EV charging is excluded from your policy. Whether you're covered will depend on your insurer, your specific policy terms and how charging is being carried out.

However, if guests are regularly charging vehicles through your existing hook-ups, it's worth contacting your insurer to confirm that this use is covered and whether any additional safety measures are required.

Installing dedicated EV chargers can help you establish a clear charging arrangement, but you should still notify your insurer and confirm that your installation meets its requirements.

Why installing dedicated EV chargers makes sense for your campsite

Rather than allowing guests to charge through your existing electric hook-ups, installing dedicated EV chargers in your car park gives you a way to accommodate demand while maintaining control over your electricity costs.

Here's how it could benefit your park.

1. Stop giving away electricity for free

With a dedicated EV charging system, guests can pay for the electricity they use rather than having it included in their pitch fee.

For example, with voltshare, you can set your own charging price and guests pay for their charging sessions directly.

You can choose a tariff that covers your electricity costs and provides an additional source of revenue for your business.

Instead of EV charging being an unexpected expense, it becomes a paid service you can offer your guests.

2. Give guests a convenient place to charge

For guests travelling by EV, being able to charge at their accommodation can make their holiday much easier.

Rather than having to find a public charger during their stay or make an additional stop on their journey home, they can plug in at your park and leave their vehicle charging while they enjoy their holiday.

Installing chargers in your car park also means you don't need to provide charging facilities at every individual pitch.

Guests can use the dedicated charging spaces when they need them, leaving your existing electric hook-ups available for their intended purpose.

3. Reduce the risk of overloading your existing hook-ups

Dedicated EV chargers are designed specifically for charging electric vehicles.

A qualified installer can assess your site's existing electrical supply and recommend an appropriate installation, including load management where necessary.

This helps you accommodate EV charging without relying on your existing pitch hook-ups, which may already be supplying caravans and motorhomes.

It also gives you a clearer way to manage how much electricity is being used for vehicle charging across your site.

4. Attract more EV-driving holidaymakers

Guests travelling by electric car may look for accommodation with charging facilities when planning their holiday, particularly when visiting rural areas where public charging options can be more limited.

Having dedicated chargers on-site gives you another facility to promote on your website, booking platforms and social media.

It also means you can accommodate guests who need to charge without asking them to make alternative arrangements or use your existing pitch electricity.

For holiday parks looking to attract new visitors and encourage repeat bookings, EV charging is an additional service worth considering.

How much does it cost to install EV chargers at a caravan or camping park?

The cost of installing EV chargers will depend on your site's existing electrical infrastructure, the number of chargers required and where they're installed.

For most caravan and camping parks, 7kW chargers can be a suitable option. Guests staying overnight generally have plenty of time to charge, meaning there's often no need to install expensive rapid charging infrastructure.

You also don't necessarily need a charger for every pitch.

Starting with a small number of chargers in your car park can allow you to accommodate existing demand, with the option to expand your charging facilities as more guests begin travelling by EV.

How voltshare can help your campsite offer EV charging

At voltshare, we help caravan and camping parks install EV charging facilities that are straightforward to manage and provide an additional service for their guests.

Our pay-as-you-go charging solution allows you to offer dedicated EV charging without the ongoing cost of a monthly subscription.

Our team can help you assess your site's requirements and identify a suitable charging solution for your park.

Don't let EV charging become an unexpected cost for your campsite

As more guests arrive at caravan and camping parks in electric vehicles, providing somewhere for them to charge is becoming an increasingly important part of the facilities you offer.

But allowing guests to use your existing electric hook-ups without a dedicated charging arrangement could leave you covering their electricity costs, dealing with overloaded circuits and facing additional insurance considerations.

Installing dedicated EV chargers gives your guests a convenient place to charge while allowing you to manage your electricity usage and receive payment for every charging session.

If you're considering installing EV chargers at your caravan or camping park, we'd be happy to help.