8 Tips for a Worry-Free Summer Holiday with Your Electric Car

Functional fast-charging infrastructure across Europe

The good news up front: the expansion of the charging infrastructure is progressing well throughout Europe, and today there is already a dense network of fast-charging stations along the highways. Long-distance travel with an electric car is therefore easily possible across the continent. As a general rule: the further south and east you go, the less frequently you’ll find public charging stations along your route. The current gold standard is the Netherlands, with 10 charging points per 1,000 inhabitants. Switzerland’s favourite destinations—Italy, Spain and Greece—rank more toward the lower end, with currently 1 (Italy), 0.9 (Spain), and 0.7 (Greece) charging points per 1,000 inhabitants (according to the Charging Report by gridX). However, if you keep a few things in mind, there's no need to worry about getting stranded, even in those countries.

Tip 1: A planned route is half the holiday

If you're planning a long-distance trip of several hundred kilometres with your electric car during your holiday, it's strongly recommended to plan your route in advance. Although most car navigation systems now offer fairly decent charging route planners, one drawback still exists, especially for longer journeys. These systems usually lack filters for the size of the charging station or surrounding amenities such as toilets or restaurants. Tesla, for example, provides excellent route planning along its well-developed Supercharger network. However, those chargers can sometimes be located off the main highway, in less convenient back-alley areas. So if you’d like to combine your charging stop with a bathroom break or a quick espresso or snack, you shouldn't rely solely on your car's navigation system. The app abetterrouteplanner.com is particularly useful in this case, allowing you to input detailed preferences such as vehicle type, energy consumption, user reviews of charging stations, food options, toilet facilities, playgrounds, or even trailer compatibility. The app also displays the pricing applicable at each charging station based on the available charging service providers. A comparable alternative is the app Chargemap, which can also function as a charging service provider at compatible stations.

Tip 2: Always have a plan B

Unpleasant but true: public charging infrastructure is not equally reliable everywhere. Some providers operate under the "set it and forget it" principle, which can mean that at some locations, the charging stations or available payment options don’t work. That’s why it makes sense to always have a secondary, nearby alternative charging station in mind for every planned stop. This is also useful in case a popular location is overly crowded, making a detour worthwhile.

Tip 3: Avoid roaming traps abroad!

Just like with mobile phone providers, roaming fees can also apply when using foreign charging networks. Many EV-travellers have already experienced some nasty surprises. So how can you avoid the roaming trap? Before your trip, carefully read the terms and conditions of the charging cards you use in your daily life. If the terms aren't suitable for your travel, consider:

• registering with a provider that offers uniform pricing across Europe. This ensures full transparency and prevents unpleasant surprises on your post-holiday bank statement. If possible, it may be worthwhile to sign up for a subscription with a base fee and lower charging costs for the duration of your trip.
• Using the charging card from your car manufacturer, as many manufacturers also offer access to defined networks across Europe at attractive prices.
• Using an RFID card instead of an app: where possible, order the RFID card for your charging service, since using the app abroad can be challenging due to network coverage issues or disabled data roaming.

Important: even these offers are valid only within specific charging networks. If you charge outside these networks, higher tariffs may apply again.

Tip 4: Factor in higher consumption from bike racks and roof boxes

Of course, the bikes, the paddleboard, or the roof box with your tent need to come along on your trip. But how does that affect energy consumption? Roof racks, bike racks or roof boxes typically increase consumption by about 15–20 percent. If that can’t be avoided, it's at least a good idea to dismantle these add-ons once you’ve arrived. A small trick that also helps: slightly increasing the tyre pressure by 0.2 bar can reduce consumption without sacrificing comfort or safety.

Tip 5: Faster is slower

In countries with more generous speed limits, the temptation to go faster is great. However, note that in electric cars, energy consumption increases disproportionately at speeds over 120 km/h, and the time gained is offset by more charging stops. So speeding won’t actually get you there faster. But hey—you’re on holiday, not in a race.

Tip 6: Shorter is quicker – skip the last 20 percent

Fast charging makes the most sense when your battery is between 10 and 80 percent charged. To protect battery chemistry, charging power is automatically reduced as the battery fills up. From 80 percent onward, it’s definitely no longer worth occupying a fast charger, as the last 20 percent of charge takes much longer than the first. You can confidently rely on the suggested charging levels in your route planner since they take your vehicle’s charging characteristics into account.

Tip 7: Pack an emergency charger for household sockets

Just in case, bring along an emergency charger for standard household sockets. If everything else fails, there’s almost always a regular outlet somewhere that you can use in an emergency. However, note that this shouldn’t be your primary charging method at a holiday rental home, as prolonged charging on older home installations can lead to overheating. Important: don’t forget to bring the appropriate adapter plugs for the various European socket types.

Tip 8: Charge during longer stays at hotels or tourist spots

Many tourist destinations, hotels and resorts now offer wallboxes for slow AC charging. If you’re staying somewhere for several hours, it’s definitely worth plugging in. The availability of charging stations can certainly be one of your criteria when choosing accommodation – best to inquire during the booking process.

Conclusion

Travelling with an electric car across Europe is no longer rocket science. The public fast-charging network along major highways is well-developed throughout the continent.

Naturally, long-distance trips will require a few more charging stops, which may slightly extend your travel time. To avoid surprises, it makes sense to think ahead about your charging plan and choose the right provider. Also, having a plan B in case a charger is down, and packing an emergency charging cable is highly recommended. If you follow these tips – and keep in mind the basic rules around your car’s consumption and charging performance – nothing stands in the way of a smooth, worry-free electric car holiday.