You are looking forward to your vacation, carefully working out the details of your dream trip, enjoying the glow of the sun's rays and the night view of the stars above your head... You are gradually packing your suitcases, carefully selecting the necessary accessories, while your children are already joyfully announcing to the world their upcoming holiday. departure. All that remains is to get in the car and start the journey. However, if you are the lucky owner of an electric car, a key element in preparing for your trip is carefully planning your route to ensure that the vehicle is properly charged and that you reach your destination without any problems.
Traveling in an electric vehicle can be extremely comfortable, provided... an adequate energy supply is provided. This becomes especially important when you are planning a long trip around Europe. Despite the growing popularity of electric cars, there are still challenges with access to charging stations, especially in areas away from main transport routes. In many countries, including Poland, charging stations are located at considerable distances from each other, often in city centers or near large stores, and not necessarily along travel routes. This brings us directly to the topic of trip planning.
Planning a trip with an electric car: quite a challenge
Before you go on an electric holiday, it is worth being aware of some realities. Even traveling around Poland may be more difficult than it seems at first glance. You don't want to find yourself in a situation where your car suddenly runs out of charge halfway through the route.
Therefore, the first step you should take is to carefully plan your route.
Grab a map, start navigation and take a pencil - or just get into your vehicle, set a route and see what the navigation system shows. But above all, make sure your car is charged before you leave.
Unfortunately, not all electric vehicles offer full information about charging stations during the trip. Therefore, it is worth using maps of public charging stations available online to make sure you find a suitable place to charge your vehicle on the road.
Travel Strategies with an Electric Car: Route Planning and Selection
When you finally manage to find charging stations along your route, it is worth carefully considering the distances and determining what speed you will have to maintain to easily get from point A to point B. In Poland, charging stations for electric vehicles are usually located on average 150 km, so you need to approach this issue seriously and make accurate calculations regarding the average speed you will have to maintain along the entire length of the route.
Choosing a route that does not require constant acceleration is also of great importance. The more energy your car uses on low-traffic, winding roads, the more difficult it will be to recover it later. Additionally, there is a risk of damaging the vehicle on uneven surfaces. Therefore, the best choice will be expressways and motorways that allow you to maintain a constant speed, and charging stations located at regular intervals, just like gas stations.
Preparing for an electric trip: Safety measures and patience along the way
When traveling a long distance in an electric car, keep in mind that you will mainly encounter AC chargers, i.e. those that are slower and use alternating current. Therefore, it is important that you have the appropriate cable in the trunk that will allow you to connect your vehicle to the charging station. Charger standards may vary, so it's worth being prepared in advance to avoid unnecessary worries.
In addition, it is worth bearing in mind the need for patience - it is best to take the opportunity to do a short shopping or relax with a hot coffee and a meal. Many chargers are located not only at gas stations or parking lots, but also in shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and other public places. So there is a high probability that you will have to leave the main route and go "into the city". Especially in Poland - so the good advice is: just enjoy the sightseeing.
There are over 80,000 electric cars in Poland, and there are only 2,885 public charging stations. The situation is no better in Cyprus, Malta, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. We are on the unfavorable list of countries where zero-emission vehicles and related infrastructure are poorly supported. Nevertheless, one can hope that the program "My electrician" will slightly improve this grim reality.
Friendly locations for electric travelers: the Netherlands and Germany
When it comes to charging infrastructure for electric cars, the Netherlands and Germany are undoubtedly at the forefront. There are as many as 518,000 charging points for electric vehicles in the land of tulips! The Netherlands breaks all records in Europe. When driving through Amsterdam, you can charge your car every 1.5 kilometers on average. The situation is similar in France, where over 17,000 charging stations are available.
It is also worth paying attention to charging costs, which depend on the type of charger and the station operator. The GreenWay operator offers attractive prices, especially for customers using the so-called roaming, which is often covered by additional discounts. Subscription holders can charge their vehicles abroad, paying the rates applicable in Poland, and GreenWay stations are located in almost all European countries.
If you want to save money when charging, you may be able to find a free station in Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland or Spain. However, in the era of dynamic development of zero-emission transport, finding such a station may be a challenge.
FAQ (Frequently asked questions)
- Is traveling in Europe by electric car safe?
- Yes, provided that the route is properly prepared and planned.
- How often do you need to charge an electric car when traveling?
- It depends on the vehicle model and the availability of charging stations along the route, but usually every 150-200 km.
- Are charging costs high compared to filling up with petrol?
- Costs may vary depending on the country and station operator, but in some cases charging may be cheaper.
- Are there special discounts for those traveling by electric car?
- Yes, some operators offer special discounts for customers using their services.
- How to find charging stations in Europe?
- You can use mobile applications, online maps or special websites that show the availability of charging stations in real time.
