Can you travel to your ski resort by electric car?

Choosing the right electric car for the mountains

Not all electric cars are suitable for travelling to ski resorts. City cars, for example, generally have a shorter range than SUVs, saloons or MPVs. They may also not have enough space to store luggage and ski gear, which can be quite bulky!
However, there’s nothing stopping you from travelling to the mountains in a small electric city car. We advise you to plan ahead for the multiple stops you’ll make to charge your vehicle.
If possible, you should choose a car with a long range, a large boot and optimum comfort for long journeys.

Planning your electric car journey

Driving in the mountains means going up and down hills all day long (or rather going up on one journey and coming back down on another). It goes without saying that the combination of wintery and mountainous conditions will lead to a sharp rise in an electric car’s energy consumption. Therefore, it’s imperative to find out about the topography of the route beforehand and adapt your journey accordingly.

So before setting off, check the real range of your electric car to avoid any nasty surprises. Not all electric cars have the same range.

For example, the Zoé and its 52kWh battery can do no more than 200km on the motorway (on average), while it can do up to 400km in city traffic. To find out more, take a look at this ranking of the longest-range models. Knowing your vehicle’s range is a good start, but that’s not all there is to it.

The impact of cold weather on your vehicle

You will also need to take into account the effects of cold weather on your vehicle. In all likelihood the battery will have less range, and additionally the use of the heater will reduce the number of kilometres covered on a single charge.

As a reminder, it is actually compulsory to equip your car with winter tyres or 4-season tyres (or chains/snow socks) in 48 French departements during the winter period, from 1 November to 31 March. We recommend that you find out more about the road and environmental regulations in force in each country.

Anticipating charging times

Journey times and itineraries also depend on the location of charging stations. So it’s highly advisable to check your itinerary before you set off, to identify the charging stations available along the way. Also remember to estimate the time you’ll spend at each charging station, so that you can plan your entire journey. By stopping off at a charging station during your lunch break, for example, you can kill two birds with one stone, by charging both your own batteries and those of your electric car!

Hit the road with peace of mind using the Chargemap route planner to plan the ideal journey based on your car model and charging preferences. All you have to do is enter your starting point and destination, followed by the initial battery level and the desired battery level at your arrival. Various parameters and settings allow you to fine-tune and personalise your route.

Optimising the use of your electric car

On long journeys, range is paramount. This is particularly true in winter and in the mountains. To reduce your vehicle’s energy consumption, here are a few easy tips:

1. Adopt an eco-driving style by travelling at a moderate speed. For example, it is advisable to maintain a speed of between 100 and 110km/h on the motorway to reduce the vehicle’s energy consumption.
2. If possible, preheat the vehicle’s interior a little before setting off while the vehicle is plugged in. If you’re getting ready to set off just after charging, this could also save you a few precious kWh, as the battery will have been “pre-heated” thanks to the charge.
3. Avoid overheating to save energy and activate regenerative braking. This will maximise your vehicle’s range.
4. Charge on time, avoiding going below 10% capacity as often as possible. Leave a safety margin in case you need to find another charging station.
5. Charge your battery to around 80%. Beyond that point, charging becomes increasingly slower and inefficient, and occupies the charging point for longer than necessary.
   
   

Planning your on-site charging solutions ahead of time

Generally speaking, ski resorts try to limit the number of parking spaces in order to leave as much room as possible for pedestrians and clear the streets. Therefore, it could be a good idea to plan your on-site charging solutions ahead of time.

Some residences or hotels have allocated parking spaces and can provide charge points to their customers. Make sure you find out about the most suitable solution in advance.

You can always check whether there are charge points near your accommodation. Simply use the Chargemap app to locate charging stations near you.

And what are your best tips for travelling to a ski resort by electric car? The Chargemap team wishes you a safe journey in your electric car ⛷️🏂.

To plan the ideal route by electric car,
download your Chargemap app.