ALBANY, N.Y.—Four Albany-based Hampton hotels are making eco-conscious travel more of a reality with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations now offered upon booking. The program, called Green Electric Vehicle, launched as a pilot at the Hampton hotels in Albany and is in the process of branching out to other Hilton Worldwide hotels in the United States. The initiative allows travelers to book a room at a participating Hilton Worldwide hotel and reserve a parking space with a Skychargers-managed GE charging station. For travelers renting a car during their stay, Hertz provides a broad EV fleet at the Albany International Airport. More Hilton Worldwide hotels within the Albany area will be installing the charging stations early next year.
“Hilton Worldwide is committed to living sustainably, and helping our guests maintain their sustainable habits while on the road,” said Brad Freet, Senior Director, Product, Quality & Innovation, Hilton Worldwide. “This EV program provides the means for guests to choose a more eco-friendly travel option and is a natural extension of our current renewable and energy efficiency initiatives.” Our hotels are fortunate to have GE, Hertz and Skychargers on board to help power this initiative for EV enthusiasts visiting the Albany area.”
Hilton Worldwide hotels currently offering EV chargers as a part of the program include: Hampton Inn Albany-Wolf Road (Airport), Hampton Inn & Suites Albany Airport, Hampton Inn Clifton Park, and Hampton Inn Downtown Schenectady Hotel. EV charging stations are coming soon at the DoubleTree Schenectady and Home2 Suites Albany.
“Hertz has been a leader in offering electric vehicles to our customers and we’re pleased to add Albany to the list of cities where EVs are offered,” said Louis Scarpelli, Region Vice President, Hertz. “By working with our partners, we’ve created local area infrastructure to make renting an EV a reality for travelers to New York’s Capital Region. Environmental sustainability is important for Hertz, and we’re committed to moving forward the development of EV options.”
Pilot Rolled Out at End of 2013
Skychargers provided funding for the pilot, which rolled out at the end of 2013. The project is part of Charge-NY, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s initiative to accelerate the use of electric vehicles in New York State by promoting the demonstration of EV charging equipment. Additional support came from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Now, in partnership with Skychargers, GE, and Hertz, any Hilton Worldwide hotel that is seeing an influx of electric vehicle use in their area is able to install EV chargers. With the U.S. Department of Energy estimating one million EVs to be on the road by 2015, the demand for electric charging stations will ultimately see growth in the coming months.
“Driving an electric vehicle fulfills a personal green commitment, and I encourage first time EV drivers to use the program as a test drive,” said Skychargers’ President David McGann. “The program is both environmentally and financially shrewd. I booked the program with a Chevy Volt for two days and experienced tremendous gas savings.”
For more information about the program, visit www.skychargers.com/travelers or visit www.hampton.com.
