How to Succeed in Your Electric Car Vacation?

Charging an electric car is a science that you need to master to avoid missing your vacation departure.

Vacation departures are approaching, and for many of you, it will be the occasion for a first long trip in an electric car. Let’s not kid ourselves; traveling in an electric vehicle is more complicated than in a combustion engine car. The technology is still young, and charging infrastructures are still developing. You will need to relearn how to travel, and to help you, we share some tips.

Very important reminder before starting. The WLTP range of your car is in no way its actual range on the highway! 400 km of WLTP range corresponds to about 250 km on the highway while respecting speed limits and being extremely gentle on the accelerator. For safety, apply a factor of 0.6 to your WLTP range, and you will have a pretty accurate idea of how far you can go on a charge.

Plan your stops. Don’t leave like an adventurer thinking you’ll see what happens. A successful trip is a well-organized trip. If you’re driving a Tesla, no problem. Just enter your destination and the onboard computer will plan your charging stops. Otherwise, download an app like Plugshare, Chargemap, or A Better Routeplanner. This way, you will know how long your trip will take, and most importantly, when you need to stop and for how long. You can plan your meal stops and bathroom breaks for the kids and the dog to optimize your travel time.

Leave with a full charge. It goes without saying, but it’s worth repeating: prepare for your trip by charging your battery to the maximum before you set off. It saves time and brings peace of mind. While you can decide with a combustion engine car to stop at the first station to refuel and lose a few minutes, it would be a shame to start your electric journey with a completely avoidable stop of several tens of minutes!

Check the availability of chargers. Sooner or later, you will have to wait for a fast charging station to become available. Believe us, it’s almost more unpleasant than queuing at a pump since charging stations do not have waiting lines. So, check before stopping that there are free spots at the charging station you are targeting. The previously mentioned apps can help you, and you can also use apps from providers like Fastned, Engie Vianeo, or Ionity, which constitute the majority of the charging parks on highways in France. Yes, it’s a lot of apps, but remember you are pioneers!

The 80% rule. Electric cars have an optimal charging speed between 10 to 80%. Going from 80 to 100% takes almost twice as long! Don’t waste time chasing the last few %. Stop a bit more often and a bit less long, and in the end, you will arrive at your destination much faster and much more rested thanks to these breaks.

Charge at your destination. Before booking your vacation, make sure you are not going to a charging desert. Finding a charging station close to your vacation spot can save your holiday. If you are going to a hotel or camping, don’t hesitate to ask the reception for advice. They know all the best plans.

These tips are not meant to scare you but simply to help you avoid some mistakes. Keep in mind that these little inconveniences are largely offset by the savings you will make by driving electric rather than combustion. Finally, charge your car whenever possible, even to recover a few kWh. Always keep some valuable % of battery to handle unexpected situations. Above all, vacations are about freedom!

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