Planning an EV road trip in Europe? Find essential apps for a smooth journey across the continent.
Just how many apps will you need to download to get yourself safely around Europe? Enhance your electric vehicle EV road trip and make your travel a breeze. Discover the must-have apps and awesome recommendations for a smooth journey through continental Europe.
Cross-Country Charging on your EV Road Trip
The path you choose significantly impacts your charging strategy. With routes through Scandinavia, Germany, and France, EV charging versatility is key.
Straight in with a top user recommendation is the EnBW Mobility+ app for its Hypernetwork’s broad compatibility across networks. This is a great app for many European countries and is rated as essential, despite the cost.
France has significantly improved its fast-charging infrastructure along the autoroutes. They offer such convenience that you do not have to think about planning your charging stops, especially along main routes.
The majority of EV charging stations in France are concentrated in urban areas. You are likely to find them near major hotels, shopping centres, supermarkets, tourist spots, large public parking areas and service stations.
For iPhone users, The Pump app is an excellent travel companion. In France, you’ll find charging stations about every 60km along the main autoroutes. Most spots have up to 8 chargers. This ensures that, even during the busiest holiday weekends, your waiting times are small.
One great provider to check out is Izivia. They have a charging card that is compatible with most networks across France.
This enhanced network supports a seamless EV experience, allowing travellers to focus more on the journey and less on the logistics of charging. Whether you’re navigating through bustling cities or exploring the countryside, the robust charging infrastructure in France and across Europe is ready to meet the demands of your electric adventure.
Ionity or Tesla
Facing a decision between Ionity and Tesla? Ionity’s Passport might be the way to go, especially if you plan to use their services extensively. Just 60 kWh of charging can justify the subscription, which requires a two-month commitment.
However, if you’re looking for widespread availability and competitive pricing, Tesla’s subscription plan appears as a great option, and it is accessible to most electric vehicles.
EV Road Trip App Overload
Much of the advice does depend on the number of countries you are going to travel within. Prepare to download and register for multiple apps if you are going to travel through multiple European charging network areas.
Roaming solutions offer the convenience of using one app across multiple networks. They often come with a higher per-kW price though. Using A Better Route Planner (ABRP) to plan your route and familiarise yourself with the networks you’ll encounter is a great option here.
ABRP stands out as a top recommendation, is praised for its comprehensive planning capabilities and seems to use conservative range estimates. For a more personalised experience, you can adjust ABRP to match your real-world consumption, enhancing its accuracy and reliability too.
However, it’s essential to stay informed about the limitations of certain apps. For instance, some users have reported difficulties with using ChargeMap in the Czech Republic, highlighting the importance of keeping your options open and being ready to adapt.
Choosing the Right EV Road Trip Charging Strategy
EnBW
This Germany-based app emerged as the favoured choice for its competitive pricing across numerous networks, despite reported absences in Luxembourg.
Tesla
Surprisingly cost-effective, although, Tesla’s network posed an extra step in checking charger availability for non-Tesla vehicles. You can charge a non-Tesla car in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.
ChargeMap and VW WeCharge
As a backup when the top choices are unavailable, try VW WeCharge. It is generally a higher cost than ChargeMap, but VW’s onboard navigation is reliable. It can accurately reflect speed limits and provides timely detours around traffic jams.
EV Road Trip Charging Insights
Charging speeds can vary across locations, varying between 20-60kW, often resulting in longer-than-expected stops. Using A Better Route Planner (ABRP) as the main planning tool might occasionally direct you away from highway chargers to more remote locations.
Experiences with Various Charging Networks
Ionity is noted for its reliability, and other networks like Engie Viameo, Fastned, and Allego offer good service at attractive rates. Destination charging, particularly at the 22kW chargers whilst sightseeing, is of great value and very convenient.
Fastned has extensive coverage in the Netherlands and is reliable, despite its higher cost compared to Tesla Supercharging.
The necessity to juggle multiple apps and cards, constantly comparing costs and accessibility, highlighted the current complexity of EV travel in Europe. The hope for a more streamlined, unified charging experience is a common sentiment among EV enthusiasts. Prepare and pre-register to use and pay where you can.
Also, be sure to check the rules of the country you are driving in. For example, in Germany, you must have a warning triangle, reflective jackets for all in your car and a UK identifier on your number plate. In France, certain major cities require you to have a Crit’Air clean air sticker or you can be fined.
If you are looking for more road-trip information, check out our Scotland Road-Trip post here and our Road-Trip Information post here.
