How does the hotel justify the investment?

Two reasons given before the purchase: guests kept asking where to charge their bikes and staff were answering with an extension cord, and the hotel wanted charging out of rooms and corridors. We give no return-on-investment figure, because that would need assumptions about how the station affects booking numbers, which we don't measure.

What if the solar panels turn out not to be enough?

There are two fallback options: adding solar panels on the hotel's roof with a cable run to the shelter's battery, or switching to a hybrid mode using the hotel's existing 230 V connection. Neither requires replacing the shelter.

Running since May 2026

Hotel Ostaniec: a ChargeGo solar bike shelter

Name: ChargeGo — systemy ładowania rowerów elektrycznych (headquarters, Dąbrowa Górnicza)
Address: Perla 10, Dąbrowa Górnicza, 41-300, PL
Price range: $$$

ChargeGo's first e-bike charging installation. A solar bike shelter at a hotel in Podlesice, at the foot of Mount Zborów, near the cycling routes of the Kraków–Częstochowa Upland.

Podlesice, Kraków–Częstochowa Upland Running since: May 2026

ChargeGo solar bike shelter at Hotel Ostaniec: 8 e-bike charging points, roof-mounted solar panels

Charging station configuration

A pre-production variant, outside the current product line.

230 V charging points

Schuko sockets with power metering on every socket

~3 kWp

Solar panels

8× 400 Wp monocrystalline panels, 12° tilt

~5 kWh

LFP battery

LiFePO4 with active heating down to −20 °C

24/7

Autonomous mode

Off-grid, no electrical connection

Technical details

Structure: Hot-dip galvanised steel, powder-coated RAL 8019 (a wood-like brown matched to the hotel's brand)
Foundation: Screw anchors, no concrete, removable later if needed
Mobile app: ChargeGo iOS + Android, QR code at each charging point
Controller: ChargeGo Core v2 with an LTE modem, remote monitoring, offline data
Lighting: 12 V LED with a motion sensor (5–10 W average draw)
Permit procedure: Building notification (shelter under 35 m² and 5 m in height)

Project timeline

1
September 2025
First contact between the hotel and ChargeGo. Initial configuration in 2 business days, a quote within 5 days.
2
October 2025
On-site technical visit. Measurements, site placement, LTE coverage check.
3
November 2025
Building notification filed, no objection from the authority.
4
December 2025 – January 2026
Shelter manufactured at the Polish plant (6 weeks).
5
February 2026
Screw foundations installed on site (1 day).
6
March 2026
Delivery and assembly (2 days: structure + solar roof, then wiring + controller + commissioning).
7
March–April 2026
Commissioning tests, calibration, hotel staff training.
8
May 1, 2026
Official opening, timed with the start of the hotel's cycling season.

What we expect from the first season (2026)

The metrics we're tracking. Results land on this page once the season closes.

Number of sessions

600–1,000

over the April–October season

Average session length

2–4 h

a 30–80% battery top-up

Solar energy produced

~2,900 kWh

per year, of which ~2,000 kWh goes to charging sessions

Self-sufficiency

100%

target: fully off-grid through the season

Guest feedback

being collected

at checkout, by hotel staff

Service call-outs

0–2

in the first season

Key design decisions

Off-grid, not hybrid

A grid connection was available, and we went with the autonomous mode anyway. The hotel didn't want an electricity bill tied to guest traffic, and the numbers showed 3 kWp and 5 kWh cover the April–October season even with heavy use. In winter, with minimal hotel traffic, the shelter switches to a low-power mode.

8 charging points, not 4 and not 12

4 charging points would be too few for this property at peak season, and 12 would cost more than actual usage justifies. This shelter predates the current catalogue: today we offer an open shelter with 10 charging points and a lockable shelter with 3 or 6.

RAL 8019 instead of the standard anthracite

Anthracite (RAL 7016) is the standard colour for urban infrastructure. Here we chose a dark, wood-like brown to match the building's facade.

No touchscreen

The touchscreen is an option at extra cost, skipped here: guests start charging from their phone, and instructions are on a welcome card.

No dedicated camera

The shelter stands in the courtyard, within view of the hotel's existing security camera. A separate camera would have been redundant. We'll revisit this after the first season if any incidents come up.

FAQ

Common questions about this installation

No. The shelter was bought at full price, with an agreement that the hotel would share operational data and photos after the season. A regular sale, not sponsorship.

Resources you might find useful

Bike shelter for hotels

The case for it, running costs and organisational models.

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Documentation for architects

Technical data sheet, RAL palette, a sample tender specification excerpt, module dimensions.

View

Indicative pricing

Market price ranges and a configurator for similar properties.

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Your installation could be next

Tell us about your property and we'll send a quote and configuration within 1–2 business days.