Sept. 7 (UPI) — Hilton Hotels announced on Thursday that it will deploy Tesla Universal Wall Connector chargers across its properties in the United States and Canada.
The hotel chain is planning to install 20,000 of these recently launched universal chargers, compatible with any North American vehicle model, in 2,000 hotels across both countries by the year 2024.
“Through this expanded agreement with Tesla, we are significantly revolutionizing the presence of universal EV chargers in North America in an incredibly short timeframe. Across Hilton’s prestigious portfolio of brands, this extensive network of EV chargers will provide our guests with unparalleled convenience, enabling them to easily access overnight charging facilities at more locations,” quoted Matt Schuyler, Hilton’s Chief Brand Officer.
Hilton has witnessed a surge in searches on its website for hotels equipped with EV chargers, highlighting the growing demand among travelers.
“By installing charging infrastructure at popular destinations like Hilton hotels, EV owners can conveniently charge their vehicles while parked, eliminating the need for additional refueling stops during their journeys. We commend Hilton for taking the lead in this space and anticipate continuing this vital initiative with other industry frontrunners,” commented Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla’s Senior Director of Charging Infrastructure.
Tesla aims to make EV charging convenient “anywhere electric vehicles are parked for more than an hour or two,” added Tinucci. She emphasized that the ultimate goal of the EV industry should be to surpass the traditional gasoline vehicle ownership experience, not just meet it, in order to accelerate widespread adoption of EVs.
Various other automakers are adopting Tesla’s charging system to standardize EV charging and enhance the travel experience for EV owners by eliminating concerns about charger availability and compatibility.
In August, Fisker announced that its owners will be able to use the 12,000 charging stations operated by Tesla in North America by 2025.
In a similar move, both GM and Ford have recently partnered with Tesla to adopt the Tesla charging system. GM expects to save $400 million in costs that were originally allocated for building out its own EV charging infrastructure.
In July, GM joined forces with BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes, and Stellantis in a collaborative effort to establish 30,000 EV charging stations by 2030. The aim is to eliminate the “range anxiety” commonly associated with considering the purchase of an EV.
