Chargemaster is offering to install 4,000 plug-in vehicle charging points at AA hotels and B&Bs for free across the UK to boost infrastructure for drivers.

The strategic partnership between the AA, Chargemaster and its new parent company BP, will see hotels fitted with 50kW rapid chargers for any EV driver to use on the POLAR network.

The first hotel to benefit from the offer is Sandford Springs Hotel in Kingsclere, Hampshire.

Chargemaster will work with any AA-inspected establishments interested in taking up the offer to determine the best charging points for their location

Research by Chargemaster shows that 90% of EV drivers will seek out destinations that have charging points over those that don’t, meaning that having a charging point provides an additional draw for hotels while the EV market continues to develop.

David Martell, chief executive of Chargemaster, said: “We believe that within the next five years, all hotels will offer EV charging, just like they provide Wi-Fi today.

“Our offer for AA hotels is a great opportunity for hotel owners and operators to get a competitive advantage with a facility that could attract hundreds of thousands of customers in the coming years.”

BP acquired Chargemaster in June this year and has also comitted to roll out a network of fast chargers at its 1,200 service stations in the UK. This will join Chargemaster's existing 6,500 points to create a total network of 11,700 points as plug-in vehicle adoption ramps up in the UK.