A luxury resort in New South Wales’ Blue Mountains has made electric vehicles a part of the holiday experience for guests, allowing them to drive one of two BMW EVs to and from the resort, as well as around its grounds.
The Emirates One&Only resort in Wolgan Valley offers either a BMW SUV X5 (a hybrid EV) or a BMW i8, and has installed two separate charging points that can fully recharge the vehicles in three hours.
The two 7kWh EVlink Wallbox charging solutions were installed at the resort at Wolgan Valley DESA, an accredited partner of Schneider Electric, which is a specialist in EV infrastructure technology.
Schneider says the charging stations were installed in two locations allowing guests to drive the cars around the resort’s 7,000 acre reserve emission free.
The resort’s decision to go electric was based on both convenience – there are no petrol stations located nearby – as well as the resort’s environmental commitments.
Recertified as a carboNZero carbon neutral resort for the past seven years, the resort was originally built according to Ecologically Sustainable Design principles, including rainwater collection, domestic water recycling, heat exchange technology and solar panel usage.
“We are simply delighted to be partnering with Schneider Electric to offer our guests an added element of luxury and an unforgettable journey to and from Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in the new BMWs,” said the resort’s general manager, James Wyndham.
“Sustainability and eco-friendliness are at the heart of everything we do and the offering allows our guests to further minimise their carbon footprint”.
Schneider Electric director of smart space, Ben Green, said the resorts efforts would help boost the profile of EVs in Australia.
“Sustainable development is a key trend in the tourism sector right now and we know that hotel guests are increasingly selecting getaway destinations with strong eco-friendly credentials,” Green said.
“With the chance to take a ride in an EV during their stay and appreciate how smooth and simple it can be, we believe this will not only enhance how guests experience this beautiful Blue Mountains reserve, but also showcase the true potential of EVs here in Australia.”
Sophie is editor of One Step Off The Grid and editor of its sister site, Renew Economy. Sophie has been writing about clean energy for more than a decade.
