6 tips for a carefree EV holiday

Plan your route

When going abroad, you'll drive many hundreds of kilometres in one day. Despite the fact that we now give access to a charging network in Europe of over 700,000 public charge points, we recommend that you check where you can charge along the way, prior to your holiday. You can plan your charge stops in advance through the Shell Recharge app. When you find a suitable charge point, you can then mark them as favourites and navigate to them through the app.

Is your EV capable of charging faster than 50kW? Then make use of the filtering functionality and refine your search for fast chargers. Another great tip is to use the "A Better Routeplanner", a tool that indicates the best places to charge along your route. It will also show useful details such as the predicted remaining battery level at the point you reach the charge point and how much time any given charge will take. In other words: it can tell you how long you'll have for a coffee break. To use a Shell Recharge fast charger at a Shell forecourt, in the app, simply filter for Shell Recharge as your preferred network. This way you'll arrive at your destination even sooner.

Check the status of charge points

Nothing is more annoying than having to wait for an occupied charge point. But you can check this in the Shell Recharge app. Get your passenger to check the status of your chosen charge point right before you arrive. Here, you can immediately see what the session will cost, too. Are you planning to fast charge? Then, it is smart to select a location that has multiple fast chargers available, especially when there is a lot of holiday traffic. Do you want to be certain of the reliability of a charge point? Chargemap is another great tool. Here, other EV drivers share their experiences. Where most charge points always work trouble-free, it sometimes happens that a charge point has issues more frequently.

Check pricing

In the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom, your Shell Recharge charge card will enable you to charge with set tariffs. This provides you with some pricing certainty. Are you planning to charge in a different country? Then always check the tariff prior to charging. In some countries, as well as paying for the energy that you use, a minute fee could also apply. This prevents other EV drivers from unnecessarily occupying the charging spot. Something to keep in mind to move your EV when you’ve got enough charge. Sometimes, charging can be even cheaper: at some supermarkets for example, you can charge for free! A great excuse to get some ice creams on the way.

Read more about pricing here.

Verify your charge card

It might sound obvious, but make sure to add your charge card to your holiday checklist. Ensure you have your charge card available and registered at least two weeks before you leave and check at a local public charge point to make sure it works to avoid surprises on the way. If you drive a leased car, check with your leasing company if you can charge abroad. It can be smart to take an extra charge card with you, for when you lose it or that unexpected problems arise. At more and more charge points you can now charge without a charge card by scanning a QR code, we call this ad-hoc charging, or pay via contactless. At some of the charge points in our network, it is even possible to start and stop charging sessions through the Shell Recharge app, you can find these chargers by filtering on 'App-activated chargers'.

Don't take the risk

It might be tempting to drive as long as you can, to reach your destination sooner, but this is not recommended. Don't take the risk and stop to charge before you really really need it, when the battery is around 10-20%. At that level, it is also still possible to head to a different charge point if your first choice is occupied or faulty. That way, range anxiety is mostly averted. Driving to your holiday, you’ll often have a higher energy usage than normal. Especially when you drive with a full boot of luggage, roof box or bike rack. Also with higher gradients, as well as speeds above 110km/h you need more energy. Driving in the mountains can however save you energy; by taking your foot off the accelerator pedal and by using your brakes you’ll regenerate energy back and immediately benefit from the additional power.

Charge at your destination

Make it easy on yourself by charging at places you plan to stop at. Research beforehand if your pit-stops and final destination has charging facilities. That way, you can start your day fully recharged and won’t lose time seeking a charge en route. Energy is almost everywhere, so if you have plenty of time it is almost always possible to charge. For emergencies, take a 3-pin-plug with you to be able to charge at 230 Volt and bring an extension cord as well. If necessary, change the charging speed of the car and always check with the owner of the location if you are allowed to charge.

And don't forget: you're on holiday! No one likes rushing, so relax knowing you’ve planned your charges and enjoy the ride from the moment you leave.