Bojan went on an EV road trip through former Yugoslavia

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  Destination: Banja Luka, Bosnia
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  Total travel distance: 5000 km
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  Vehicle: Polestar 2
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  Number of stops: 7 (but 5 would also have worked)
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  Real range: about 350 km
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  Charging cost: about 340 euros

For Bojan, summer holidays always mean a happy reunion with his family in Bosnia. And for that, he is happy to make the long 1,500-kilometre car journey. During his four-week holiday, he also takes the time to make small trips from Bosnia with the family. Including trips to Serbia and Croatia, Bojan covered no less than 5,000 kilometers in total, and for the first time he embarked on this adventure with an electric vehicle. Not with the Skoda Enyaq that he has been driving for a year, but with a Polestar 2. "Since I had discovered the joy of electric driving, I was determined to embark on the annual trip to Bosnia with my EV," he says. The Skoda Enyaq is a comfortable and spacious family car with a driving range of around 500 kilometers, the vehicle seemed perfect for me to make long trips as well."

Just before his departure, however, car trouble threw a spanner in the works. "The Skoda had to go to the garage and I had to look for another vehicle. I was provided with a Polestar 2. A very nice vehicle, but still a bit too small to leave on a trip with his wife, 2 children and luggage." In the end, Bojan's wife and children decided to head for Bosnia by plane. Bojan covered the distance all by himself by car. That solo trip towards Eastern Europe went off without a hitch. "I enjoyed the peace and quiet immensely and that is immediately one of the advantages of driving electric. The vehicle is quiet, drives very comfortably and thanks to the driving assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane assist and one pedal driving, you can relax on the road. Although, of course, you still have to pay attention," says Bojan.

More charging stations than EVs

Bojan made the outward journey in two parts. First, he drove about 1,000 kilometers to Austria and spent the night there. On the second travel day, he had to drive another 500 kilometers or so. "The biggest advantage was that I arrived at my destination completely fresh. In the end, the journey took me a long time, but that was also because I spent 3 hours in a traffic jam at the border with Bosnia," Bojan says. During his journey, he stopped 7 times to charge. "But I could just as easily have done that in 5 times. I deliberately chose not to let the battery drop below 30% and only charged for half an hour every time. That was very easy: my Shell Recharge card from LeasePlan was accepted anywhere in the EU." To charge outside the EU as well, Bojan used his private charging card from Chargemap. Nowhere did he encounter any problems.

"Along and/or near the motorways in Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, you can find lots of fast chargers. In Bosnia, the infrastructure is not as good, but you can find charging stations in every city. Since the country is not that big and you can quickly go from city to city, you are therefore never short on energy. There are about 175 charging stations scattered all over the country, but that is still more charging points than EVs driving around," Bojan laughs. "But you do notice that the government is encouraging electric driving. For instance, you can charge for free almost everywhere here, and in the capital Sarajevo I found fast chargers where you only pay 10 euros for 30 minutes.

Regenerative braking as a saving grace

On one occasion, things did get hot under Bojan's feet. When he had to go from Sarajevo to the next town some 125 kilometers away, he started the ride with a full battery. "But I had to cross a 1,000-meter-high mountain and the more we climbed, the faster the battery drained. I was afraid we wouldn't make it to the next charging station. Until we reached the top and we drove back down. Regenerative braking recharged the battery and I made it out of the mountains without any extra loss. From then on, I knew I wouldn't get into trouble with my EV and I was reassured for the rest of the holiday," laughs Bojan. Whether he will travel with the EV again next time? "Absolutely," he says firmly. "I am completely convinced. More than ever, I also enjoyed the trip in itself and not just the destination."

One last question remains: the Skoda Enyaq or the Polestar 2?

"That's a choice between the heart and the mind," Bojan laughs. "The Polestar 2 is a fantastic vehicle. Sporty, fast, comfortable and extremely handsome. On the German Autobahn I tasted its power, and in Bosnia, where Polestar is not sold, I got a lot of admiring looks. But the Skoda Enyaq is roomier and more comfortable, though it also drives a bit more cumbersome. So as a car enthusiast, I choose the Polestar, but as a family man, I go for the Skoda," says Bojan.

4 golden tips from Bojan

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  Download multiple apps such as A Better RoutePlanner, Chargemap, Shell Recharge and Plugshare, and plan your route in advance, including charging stops.

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  Don't panic, you can always find a charging solution, but be sure to include your home charging cable.

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  You can fast-charge cheaper with a monthly subscription with e.g. Ionity and Tesla.

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  On social media, look for groups like Enyaq BE and NL, Polestar BE and NL or the ine of the EV brand you drive. There, you will find useful tips & tricks for going on holiday with your EV.