How to Plan an EV Road Trip?

Suitcases are packed, and you’re looking forward to spending some lovely time enjoying the seaside, camping surrounded by nature or exploring culture and food in a new country. The future seems bright as ever. 

Wait a minute. 

Are you going there with an electric car? In that case, it might require a bit of planning. Don't worry, we've got you covered with some handy tips.

While your journey may not be drastically different from travelling with a traditional petrol car, a little extra preparation certainly won't hurt.

Theoretically, you can travel with any electric car. 

We once mentioned a man who travelled with Renault Twizy from Munich to the North Cape (around 3700 km). That was extreme! The car has a 5.8 kWh battery and about 80 km range. You can only imagine how many stops that traveller had to make in order to reach his destination. 

To drive comfortably and avoid that itchy feeling called range anxiety, you need two things:

• certainty that you will have super-fast charging stations along your route

• a vehicle with at least 250 km range. 

The second point is subjective, though. 

If you are planning to rent an electric car for your trip, here are some more models that can offer you a worry-free travelling experience:

If you don’t mind stopping for charging every 2-3 hours, you can, of course, pick a car with a shorter range. Here are a few examples.

Some say plug-in hybrids, like the Toyota Prius Plug-in, Chevrolet Volt, and BMW i3 REx, offer a middle ground for those unsure about the limited range of electric cars or who want flexibility on longer trips. This is because they can switch to the combustion engine when the battery runs out. 

But! 

Plug-in hybrids are heavier as they have two motors AND a battery. This means they guzzle more fuel when using the combustion engine. Plus, their electric range is normally short. So, if you're not recharging every 100 km or less, driving long distances in a plug-in hybrid doesn't really make sense. On top of that, plug-in hybrids aren't as eco-friendly as electric cars because they still rely on fossil fuels, contributing to air pollution and climate change. All in all, a pure all-electric car is a better alternative for long distances.

If you want to keep your stops short on your road trips, it's helpful to know about the charging capabilities of your electric car. Each model has its own power limits for charging. 

Let’s imagine, you mostly plan to stop at AC public charging stations. For comparison, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 can charge at a maximum power of 11 kW at an AC charging station, while the Renault ZOE offers a maximum AC charging power of 22 kW. Even though the range and battery sizes may differ, the Renault ZOE is likely to charge more kilometres per hour of charging compared to the Hyundai IONIQ 5.

On a long road trip, DC fast charging is like a dream came true. For comparison, while with AC 11 kW charging station you can charge BMW iX3 from 50 to 80% in about 2 h, with a DC 150 kW charging station you can do the same thing in just 5-10 min. These calculations differ from one car model to another as every electric vehicle has its own max charging speed, but you get the picture, right?

We know, we know. It was mentioned quite a few times in our blog that DC charging is not healthy for your vehicle. DC charging means power fills in your car super fast and this process is pretty exhausting for the battery. 

That being said, it doesn’t mean that every stop for rapid charge will cut a year of your battery life. If you need a super quick charge, just go for it. 

Our advice is to not go overboard with it, even though it's super tempting during those long EV road trips. Instead, think ahead and come up with some nice things to do while your car charges at those AC public charging stations. 

In this guide, we'll take you through the essential steps to ensure a pleasant trip experience. 

Have you already decided on your final destination? Then, it’s time to plan how you’re gonna get there. Do the initial route planning based on the scenery you want to see, the cities you want to drive through, or perhaps special points you want to visit along the way (e.g. parks, zoos or museums). 

At this point, you might need to adjust your plan slightly, but no significant changes are normally needed unless you’re travelling through a desert. 

When driving, you can simply use the navigation system that's already built into your vehicle to find charging stations. You don't fancy the built-in system? Or maybe you just like the idea of having a detailed itinerary for your upcoming trip with all the stops marked? Try dedicated apps or websites designed specifically for electric car travel. We have listed the most common ones below. These tools can help you locate and map the optimal stops for charging your vehicle during the journey. 

Before you hit the road, make sure you know how to use the charging stations and what kind of cable you might need for your electric car. It'll save you time and hassle when you actually arrive at the charging spots.

Since most public AC charging stations do not have charging cables, it's a good idea to drop a type 2 cable in the back of your car. Also, don't forget to bring your RFID card from a public charging network operator if you have one. These simple things will help make your charging experience smoother.

Learn about charging costs to make informed choices. For instance, Ronald and Johannes, our e-mobility enthusiasts, paid only 29 cents/kWh and 13 EUR/month with Hyundai's special tariff on their trip from Austria to Norway.

Without using the tariff, they would have paid 79 cents/kWh. Quite a difference, huh?

Use charging apps or websites to get an idea of how much time you'll need to charge your electric car at each stop. This way, you can plan your breaks and schedule accordingly.

Driving an electric car and hoping you will find a charging station as you go is… well… adventurous, but planning might offer you a more relaxing journey. Some mobile apps are a real help. Just a few clicks, and you have your road all planned, with stops to charge your car and coffee or lunch to recharge your inner battery. 
Sounds good? 

Have a look at the options we picked for you. All the apps can be used to find charging points, activate the charging process and pay for it. But what makes them different?

ChargeFinder

Unlike many other apps that simply show you the place located right next to the charging point, ChargeFinder gives you a detailed list of points of interest nearby, like restaurants, museums, supermarkets, and the distance to them. Change the map overview to satellite mode and see more of the road and landscapes of your future journey. 

PlugShare 

In this app, you can search for a charging point by plug type, charging speed, food, bathroom, parking lot, shopping, grocery store, etc. Build some nice routes for your upcoming journey at plugshare.com, and they will show up in the app. Sadly, you can’t do the route building directly in the app.

nextcharge

nextcharge is one more app that makes it possible to create a route taking into account charging points on the way. Here, you can do it right in the app. Enter your car model, departure/arrival points, average speed, number of passengers, and other details. You will then receive a personalised itinerary based on all your charging preferences and accurate calculations of the expected battery level at different points in the journey. 

IONITY

Unlike the previous options, IONITY has its own network of charging points and shows them in the app. You can find IONITY chargers in 24 European countries. The charging provider comprises various automotive groups such as BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen, Ford, and Hyundai, offering special tariffs for the drivers. Electric cars from these member brands charge at around €0.30/kWh rate plus a small monthly fee, which makes IONITY charging perfectly affordable (30.06.2023). The app allows you to find charging stations, start charging and track the whole process while enjoying your coffee or exploring the area nearby.

You use Google Maps to find a way from home to that new restaurant in town? Then why not use it to look for charging stations when travelling to another country, right? If your car has its own built-in navigation system you’re happy with, just skip this part. But if you prefer the good old familiar interface of Google Maps, no problem. 

The only thing is, you can’t simply use the app on your phone for route planning. You need to have Google Maps built into your vehicle. So far, Google apps and services are integrated into General Motors, Honda, Polestar, Renault and Volvo electric cars. 

Google Maps easily teams up with compatible EVs and monitors your battery levels, energy usage, and other important stats. It can even predict your battery status when you reach your destination. 

No need to stress about manually adjusting settings while driving. Many of these features work automatically, so you can relax on the road. For example, if Google detects that you'll need a charging station along your route, it will prompt you to add it without any extra effort on your part.

It goes the extra mile by showing you if places like museums have charging stations right there on the premises. So when you search for "Museum" on your car display, keep an eye out for a nifty little charging station icon below the address and alongside the place's rating.

Most apps for finding charging stations show Tesla Superchargers on the way. But honestly, Tesla's own app is the most convenient option. Synchronised with the car, it calculates your recharging needs and maps suitable routes specifically tailored to Tesla Superchargers. Whether you're planning ahead or making a spontaneous trip, the app guides you to the nearest charging points, providing you with peace of mind.

Travelling long distances with an electric car is easy. But if you make a little preparation, it will be even more fun. Here are some tips from our go-e team. 

Charging an electric car often takes longer than refuelling a traditional vehicle. Charging time depends a lot on the kind of charging station you choose, car battery size, car charging capabilities and state of the battery. For instance, at an HPC (high power charging) 350 kW station, you can charge the Hyundai IONIQ 5 (72.6 kWh) from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes. In the meantime, with an 11 kW AC charger, you will be able to get the same amount of power in more than 4 hours. 

Keep in mind that not all charging stations are going to be available. For example, some might be occupied when you reach them. So, it's best not to create a tight schedule for charging. Don’t wait until your battery is nearly empty, and be prepared for unexpected situations. 

Visiting friends on the way to your destination? Planning to spend a few nights at a campsite? A mobile wallbox, like our go-e Charger Gemini flex allows you to take it with you and charge your electric car from a red CEE socket wherever you are. This way, your charging will be financially beneficial. And don't worry if you can't find a red CEE socket, you can still plug it into a blue CEE outlet or even a regular 220V socket with the right go-e adapter. Just keep in mind that charging will be slower in the latter case. 

Many hotels these days are offering EV charging stations to guests for free or at special rates. Just imagine this: you're about to arrive at your hotel late in the evening and realise your car battery is running dangerously low. If you know the hotel has charging facilities, you can relax knowing you can top up overnight. Otherwise, you'll have to make a detour to charge up, which isn't the most exciting thing to do when you're already tired from driving.