• November 30, 2009

Element Hotels, a division of White Plains, N.Y.-based Starwood Hotels and Resorts, will install electric car-charging stations at all of its properties by the end of 2009.

Starwood, which launched Element in 2008, says it did a pilot program at an Element property in Lexington, Mass. The ChargePoint Networked Charging Station was developed by Coulomb Technologies of California. In partnership with Carbon Day Automotive, it will be available at Element hotels currently open, and will be available for installation at properties that the brand plans to open over the next several years.

The company says the ChargePoint devices have a universal plug-in for all kinds of electric vehicles, from cars and buses to electric bikes. To use the stations, guests will simply swipe a key fob, plug in, and charge up. The company is also offering "Hybrid Preferred" parking spots closest to Element hotels' front doors for electric and hybrid vehicles.

The company has six properties and plans to open five more. Current locations are in Texas, Colorado, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Maryland. California, Georgia, Nebraska, New Jersey and New York will be sites for new Element properties, per the company.--Karl Greenberg