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Tempted to take to the roads this summer, not the skies? Experts reveal top tips for driving an electric car in Europe as owners reveal concerns
- Chaos at airports is driving an increase in searches for driving an electric car in Europe
- News comes as nearly half of drivers would not feel confident driving an electric car abroad
- France and Italy - popular driving destinations - amongst top five countries with the most public chargers in Europe
Experts are advising drivers on the best way to plan a trip to Europe in an electric car, as almost half of owners reveal they would not feel confident driving abroad.
As schools begin to break up for summer and with many drivers put off by chaos at airports, the Electrifying.com website has seen an increase in searches from those who are curious about driving their electric car in Europe. Despite this, a recent survey for Electrifying.com found that 44% of drivers would not feel confident driving an electric car abroad.
Range anxiety is no longer a worry, with many cars now driving over 250 miles on a single charge. Instead, drivers who wish to take their cars to Europe this summer are suffering from charging anxiety as they are confused about how to plug in and pay while abroad.
Founder and CEO of Electrifying.com Ginny Buckley said:
“It’s understandable that motorists feel daunted and confused about driving an electric car abroad, but with some careful planning and our handy tips, your journey can be made a lot easier.
“Whether you’re dreaming of a road trip through Italy or driving to the south of France, consider planning your route with a dedicated app, booking a hotel with charging facilities and taking the Eurotunnel as there are currently free charging points - compared to Dover’s ferry terminal where there are none.
“It doesn’t have to feel like you’re driving into the unknown. In fact, many European nations including France and Germany are speeding ahead when it comes to infrastructure rollout. With the chaos at airports not set to get any better, now really is the time to take to the wheel instead of the skies.”
Top tips for driving your electric car in Europe
- Electrifying.com is recommending that holidaymakers plan their trip carefully and do plenty of research. For example, some towns in France are restricting cars that aren’t zero emission. Although you’ll be fine in an electric car, you will still need proof of this with a ‘CritAir’ sticker.
- It’s also worth considering planning your route using ABetterRoutePlanner.com which will calculate your route and tell you where to charge, how much battery you’ll have when you get to each stop, and how long you should charge for.
- If you’re spreading your journey out over multiple days, also consider finding a hotel with a charger. That way you can wake up with a full charge and shave significant time off your journey.
- Many charging points on the continent will not accept contactless payment; the most common way of activating a charger is using an RFID card from providers like Chargemap, Plugsurfing or Shell Recharge. These cards enable you to charge at hundreds of chargers from different networks across Europe.
Michiel Langezaal, CEO of Fastned, one of Europe’s largest charging station operators, said:
“With a bit of planning, electric vehicles can go almost anywhere in Europe. But when you go on holiday, you don’t want to worry about where to charge.
“That’s why I recommend drivers plan ahead and identify charging stations with a route planner, such as the one in the Fastned app, and bring a range of payment options. Not all charging stations in Europe accept bank cards, so consider an RFID card and using the station’s app.
“At Fastned, we have over 200 charging stations across Europe, so you are likely to find our distinctive yellow canopy stations on your journey. All of them offer English-language instructions, multiple payment options and work with all types of electric vehicles. For the quickest experience, download our app.”
Euan Moir, Regional Manager UK & Nordics at Shell Recharge Solutions, said:
“Our yearly survey among EV drivers shows that the respondents have mixed experiences with charge point access when travelling to other European countries. With Shell Recharge, you can use the app or charge card to pay for charging at over 300,000 public charge points in Europe and over 10,000 in the UK. Furthermore, the app will help you find your way to the nearest available charge point, and understand the charging costs upfront.”
Ends
Notes to editors
Taken from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), top five countries in Europe with the most chargers:
Netherlands (90,284)
Germany (59,410)
France (37,128)
Sweden (25,197)
Italy (23,543)
About Electrifying.com
Drivers are going through the most disruptive period in personal mobility since the horse and cart gave way to the car, and Electrifying.com is shaping the mainstream conversation about this transition.
Comprising a team of electric experts, the brand is led by Founder and CEO Ginny Buckley. With 25 years' experience in broadcasting, journalism and the automotive industry, Buckley is here to demystify the electric car and give trusted, independent advice to the mainstream car buyer, enabling them to make the switch with confidence.
She is joined by Nicki Shields, the face of Formula E, host of the CNN tech and electric racing show ‘Supercharged’; tech, gadget and car expert Tomi Adebayo (better known as @gadgetsboy) and Tom Ford, the former host of BBC Top Gear America, Fifth Gear and electric car advocate.
Our team of experts are here as a resource to help drivers understand, choose, buy and run an electric vehicle, all while moving the conversation away from tech-savvy, early adopters to the mainstream.
