Traveling southwards with an EV effortlessly and without worries

**Guy: "I only made three stops. With a traditional car, I would definitely do the same."

**- Holiday destination: Valmeinier, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

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  Vehicle: Tesla Model 3
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  EV range: +/- 450 kilometres
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  Distance travelled: 1000 kilometres
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  Route: Luxembourg - Metz - Dijon - Lyon

Guy set off on holiday in his electric car for the first time this summer, covering some 1,000 kilometres towards the French Alps. The only preparation he made was plotting the route through some major cities and installing the app 'A Better Routeplanner'.

According to Guy, you don't lose much time at charging stations: "The charging infrastructure along French highways is excellent; you can find a fast charger every 30 kilometers. I made only three stops along the way, stretching my legs for a while. This corresponds to what I would also do with a normal vehicle. Fast charging takes about half an hour, after which you can drive another 300 kilometers to the next stop. The journey was smooth and comfortable, without any stress."

Once he arrived in the Alps, Guy highlights an important point: "You can charge your EV anywhere, but watch out for the 'idle fee'. This is an extra fee you pay if you leave your EV at a charging station while the battery is already full. Also check and compare the prices of charging stations, as they can vary considerably. You can easily do that with an app like Shell Recharge. In total, I spent about 200 euros on charging sessions, but it could have been less if I had kept track a bit better (laughs)."

As for solidarity among EV drivers, Guy says: "EV drivers show understanding for each other and spontaneously talk to you about their charging or departure times. This is a positive development for the future, as EV drivers are so friendly and courteous to each other."

**Angelo: "The day after I returned home, I immediately took my conventional 'Holiday Car' out of my contract. From now on, I always travel electric."

**- Holiday destination: Lazise (Lake Garda), Verona, Italy

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  Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz EQA
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  EV range: +/- 420 kilometres
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  Distance travelled: 1050 kilometres
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  Route: Luxembourg - France - Switzerland

Although Angelo initially never thought he would go on holiday with his EV, he did drive to Italy's Lake Garda with his family this summer. "When I ordered my EV, I also immediately arranged for a "Holiday Car". This is a petrol car that your contract allows you to use for a maximum of 3 weeks to go on holiday. After a year of driving my Mercedes EQA, I was so used to it that I absolutely wanted to travel electric. Beforehand, I did some reading and downloaded some apps, but in the end, my own EV's GPS system was equipped with the best features to guide me safely and worry-free."

On the way to Italy, Angelo made one stop to spend the night. "To make sure I could recharge, I booked a hotel with charging infrastructure. However, this turned out to be an unnecessary additional cost, as you find numerous charging stations at every stop on the way to Italy. Every 2.5 hours I stopped to stretch my legs and in the meantime I let the car recharge for 15 minutes. There is also a lot of solidarity among EV drivers. One friendly English-speaking man even left earlier so I could recharge immediately."

Once on site, Angelo devised a convenient and practical plan: "During a morning jog, I discovered a car park with charging poles. When my EV needed charging, I placed it there in the morning so it could charge while I was jogging."

After travelling with his EV, Angelo immediately removed the conventional holiday car from his contract. "An EV offers so much comfort and travel pleasure, even for longer distances."

**Some valuable tips

**Both Guy and Angelo are totally convinced. They encourage everyone to go on holiday to the sun with their EV. To make your trip completely worry-free, they would like to give you a few more tips:

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  Plan your trip in advance. This goes without saying. Download the right apps and plan your route carefully.
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  Take several charging cards with you. To make sure you can charge anytime, anywhere, it's a good idea to take a spare charge card with you. If you lose one, you still have a backup pass.
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  Check tariffs. Through apps like Shell Recharge, you can check the tariffs of charging stations. Check and compare prices as they can vary widely.
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  Adaptive cruise control. If your EV has it, it is a handy feature that both optimizes your consumption and ensures you avoid fines. These tips will also help you get the most out of your range.
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  Have more than 20% battery left. For peace of mind, it is recommended to recharge regularly, even if it is only for a short time. Ideally, you should keep your battery above 20%, which is much better for its longevity.
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  Don't worry too much! Technology is so advanced that the on-board computer can accurately predict how far you can drive, even in mountainous areas.
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  Be in solidarity with other EV drivers and don't charge longer than necessary. With our Happy Charger, you let other drivers know how long it will take to charge your car. You can request your free Happy Charger charging disc here! Going on holiday with your EV? Just do it! Provided you are well prepared, you will have a comfortable, stress-free and enjoyable holiday.