Launched in July 2021, r3charge is the first travel platform for electric vehicles, allowing users to book hotels around the world with destination charging. We recently caught up with Guillaume Bernhardt, the Co-founder and CEO, to discuss the origin of r3charge’s concept and the benefits of a distributed, slow charging, network.
What can you tell us about r3charge?
Guillaume Bernhardt: r3charge is the first hotel-booking platform dedicated to electric vehicle travelers. On r3charge, users can directly book more than 10.000 hotels equipped with electric vehicle charging points in more than 42 countries. Our platform brings into one single interface a trusted source of EV charging data and all the information for a pleasing hotel booking experience, greatly simplifying travel planning with an EV.
Who is behind r3charge?
GB: I co-founded r3charge 2 years ago with Jonatan Collard Bovy. As engineers and citizens, we have always been interested in environmentally friendly solutions. Electric vehicles, with their potential to reduce CO2 emissions while still providing the freedom of individual mobility were for us a no-brainer, at least on paper.
Why did you start this company?
GB: The concept comes from our real-life experience traveling with an EV without the proper charging infrastructure in place. What started as a mundane motorway drive on the way to Austria ended up as a charging point hunt. We had to carefully look where to charge on the way, making sure we could reach the next charger, hoping it was not out-of-order, busy, or incompatible with their several payment solutions. When we finally reached our destination, the problem was still there: a single charging point on the other side of the town.
We knew that we were not the only ones facing this issue and as the EV market was booming, more people will struggle and not be happy to pay the price of being early adopters.
How do you help people plan a trip with an EV?
GB: Our idea is to change the current approach where EV drivers have to look for charging options and organize their travel plans around this limiting factor. We want to make people focus on the destination, not where to charge, like with a petrol car. No need to compare information on several apps to find available charging points, accommodation options, or parking rules. On r3charge, people simply have to look for a destination and book the place that fits their needs. They know they will start the day after with a full battery. If their car range allows it, they can even skip charging on the roadside altogether.
Don’t you think this problem will be solved with the development of the fast charging infrastructure?
GB: Fast charging points are a key component of the charging infrastructure. However, they will always suffer from 2 main issues. First, fast charging equipment is expensive to install and supply with a high power current, making it rare and sometimes more expensive than the equivalent distance with a petrol car. Second, no matter how fast a car can recharge, it will always take at least 15 minutes or more. That’s the limit of physics. On the other hand, distributed slow charge has many benefits: it has a relatively modest installation and operating cost, can allow local business to generate additional revenues and if used at the destination, users never have to wait as they simply plug their car and go do something else.
What is the added value of r3charge over other hotel booking platforms or charging apps?
GB: For EV users, a reliable charging point is one of the top criteria when looking for a hotel. On r3charge we combine the best of both worlds on a single interface. Compared to mainstream hotel booking platforms, we provide detailed information about all charging options: at the hotel or on-street, the number of charging points, price, and also feedback from other users on the overall experience including charger access and reliability. This carefully reviewed information helps travelers to make the best decision when booking their next trip.
What are the charging options available on r3charge?
GB: r3charge’s focus is to provide all the different charging options available at the destination, Due to the fact that destination charging is not available everywhere, we display both hotels that have charging equipment on their premises but also hotels that are located next to public chargers, greatly extending the number of charging options and making traveling with an EV possible in virtually any city in the world already today.
In which countries is r3charge available?
GB: We offer direct booking of hotels worldwide but Europe and North America are our current main focus due to a large number of electric vehicle users. In total, we offer more than 50.000 hotels in more than 42 countries.
Can I reserve a charger with my hotel booking?
GB: At this stage, it is not possible to reserve a charging session at the time of booking the hotel. However, each time you book a stay we make sure that the hotel management is aware that the guest will be coming with an electric vehicle and will do its best to fulfill this request. We are working on a daily basis with hotel owners around the world to install charging solutions hoping that soon each parking spot will be available with its own charging point.
Is there an app available for recharge?
GB: Currently r3charge is only available on web and mobile web platforms via a fully responsive website. Our apps for iOS and Android are currently under development and should be out at the beginning of 2022.
What other features can we expect from r3charge in the future?
GB: We will soon launch r3charge Trip, a trip planning and navigation tool to optimize access, payment, and charging time for any electric vehicle journeys from start to finish. On r3charge Trip, users will build itineraries adapted to their vehicle range and receive step-by-step guidance on where to charge on the road and at destination depending on their preference for the fastest, greenest, or more economical route, right into their car dashboard with Android Auto or Apple Car Play.
About r3charge
r3charge provides detailed information on more than 10.000 hotels either offering charging facilities for guests or with access to public charging stations. A pioneer in sustainable travel, r3charge is supporting the electric vehicle revolution by offering and promoting EV-friendly properties worldwide.
Click HERE to learn more about r3charge.
