At a glance
This article covers the following questions:
- How do you prepare for a trip in an electric car?
- How do you recharge your battery along the way?
- What's the best way to drive?
- What should you do when the battery runs out?
- How does roadside assistance work for an electric vehicle?
More and more of us are heading abroad in an electric car.
How do you prepare properly? What should you watch out for?
Follow the Redion guide to hit the road with peace of mind and arrive safely, without pushing your battery to its limits.
Preparing your electric car trip = 80% of success
Improvising a holiday departure with a petrol or diesel car isn't too complicated. With an electric car, planning ahead is the key to peace of mind. Preparing properly only takes a few minutes and changes the whole travel experience.
Plan your stops with the right tools
Don't rely solely on your car's built-in navigation. For an optimal route, download a dedicated route-planning app such as A Better Route Planner (ABRP) or Chargemap. These tools calculate the ideal stops based on your car model, the weather and elevation changes.
The goal? To spot fast-charging stations (above 100 kW) along your route ahead of time. As we explain in our article on where and how to charge your battery while travelling, correctly identifying compatible infrastructure ahead of time saves you unpleasant surprises once you're on the motorway.
The 20-80% rule
Forget the instinct to "fill up" to 100% at every stop. On the motorway, the winning strategy is the 20-80% rule:
- Stop when you have around 20% battery left.
- Charge up to 80% and get back on the road.
Why? Beyond 80%, charging speed drops drastically to protect the cells. You'd be wasting time for nothing. What's more, limiting full charges preserves the long-term health of your battery, a crucial point we cover in detail in our full feature on electric car batteries.
On the road: choose the right type of charging point
To travel with peace of mind, you need to distinguish between two ways of "filling up".
The different types of charging points (fast vs destination)
Not all charging points are equal. Telling them apart is essential if you don't want to waste time:
- Fast chargers (DC): located at motorway service areas (Ionity, Fastned, Tesla Superchargers networks...), they deliver very high power (often > 100 kW). This is where you'll make your 20-to-30-minute "coffee break" stops to top up most of your range.
- Destination chargers (AC): slower, they're found at hotels, campsites or public car parks. They're ideal for charging the car overnight or during a long sightseeing visit.
Paying for charging: carry several payment cards
Payment harmonisation is progressing across Europe, but we're not yet safe from a faulty card reader or an incompatible network.
To avoid getting stuck in front of a charging point, the golden rule is redundancy:
- Bring at least two charging cards (RFID badges) from different providers (for example Shell Recharge, Chargemap or the one provided by your car manufacturer).
- Install the corresponding apps on your smartphone and link your payment method to them before you leave.
This simple precaution guarantees you'll be able to start charging, whatever the local operator.
Adjust your driving to go further
On a long trip, your driving behaviour has as much impact on range as your battery's capacity. A few simple adjustments let you space out your stops.
Speed, loading and air conditioning
The number one enemy of range on the motorway is air resistance.
- Ease off the accelerator: driving at 110 km/h instead of 130 km/h can gain you up to 15% or 20% more range. Paradoxically, you'll often arrive at your destination faster, since you'll spend less time charging.
- Watch your aerodynamics: roof boxes and bike racks significantly increase consumption. If possible, choose a tow-bar-mounted bike rack, which uses less energy.
- Manage cabin comfort: air conditioning uses energy. Even though the impact is less severe than with heating (a topic we cover in detail in our article on electric cars in winter), try to pre-condition the cabin while the car is still plugged in before you set off.
Adopting smooth, anticipatory driving not only makes your journey safer, but also means you'll arrive more relaxed at your holiday destination.
Running out of charge: myths and realities
It's the fear of many drivers: watching the gauge drop to 0% in the middle of nowhere. In reality, however, this situation is extremely rare thanks to the dashboard's ever-present warnings.
What should you do if the battery is "empty"?
If, despite all your precautions, you find yourself stranded, the reflex is the same as with a petrol or diesel vehicle: get to safety and contact your assistance service.
Warning: towing an electric car "the old-fashioned way" can seriously damage the motor, because the wheels drive the energy-regeneration system, which causes immediate overheating. So take a look at our list of things to do and not to do with an electric vehicle.
Are you hesitant about going electric for this reason, out of fear of breakdowns and limited range? Then a hybrid vehicle can be a good compromise: either with a battery that self-recharges via the combustion engine and regenerative braking, or with a more powerful battery that charges at an electric charging point.
Roadside assistance for an electric vehicle
A professional's intervention is essential.
- Flatbed towing: Your car must always be lifted and placed on the tow truck, not dragged along with its wheels on the ground.
- Mobile charging solutions: Some breakdown services now have "boosters" to give you just enough energy to reach the nearest charging point.
As we explain in detail in our article on roadside assistance for electric cars, Redion has a network of trained, properly equipped partners for these specific interventions, all across Europe. You'll never be left alone on the roadside.
Some frequently asked questions about electric cars
With a dedicated route-planning app such as "A Better Route Planner" (ABRP) or "Chargemap".
