Holidays & COVID-19 – the whys and wherefores of travelling by electric vehicle
With the Easter holidays just around the corner, you might well be contemplating travelling towards an authorised destination. The health issues implicit in COVID-19 mean we have to think about which mode of transport we should use to minimise risks. Cars in general still offer the surest means of transport, and EVs are the perfect option in terms of ecological impact. So here’s how to limber up for a safe, hassle-free e-powered journey.
1. Electric cars: a safe, clean way to travel
Travelling by car during these COVID times is the best mode of transport in terms of reducing the risk of transmitting the virus. The driver and passengers often come from the same household and journey breaks to pick up a bite to eat or drink are low risk if you take the necessary safety precautions.
In addition to being safe healthwise, EVs also represent the most environment-friendly travel option. Driver comfort is yet another plus point making EVs the ideal choice for stress-free travel.
2. How to prepare for your journey by electric vehicle
✔︎ Getting to know your EV
If going on a long journey by EV is something new for you, it is essential that you become familiar with the technical characteristics of your electric vehicle and the terminology involved in the charging process.
- What is the capacity of your battery (kWh)?
- What is the maximum power rating (kW) tolerated by your on-board charger? Is it AC or DC?
- What external factors may affect the charging performance of your car?
- What are the different types of charging connectors for your electric vehicle?
- Etc.
You can find answers to all these questions in our article on power ratings and charging times. The information will help you forestall a few unpleasant surprises and select the charging stations that are compatible with your vehicle and your needs.
✔︎ Planning your journey by electric car
What triggers our motivation every day at Chargemap is developing services that make your e-powered journeys easier. The Chargemap app already lists hundreds of thousands of charging points throughout Europe – but that’s not all.
Among the features available free of charge, we propose a highly practical route tool. You simply need to key in your departure and arrival addresses to view all the charging stations available along your route. If you only want to display the charging stations that match your requirements, don’t forget to use our impressive range of filters.
Practical tip: select the charging stations you prefer and add them to your favourites. If your vehicle has an Android Auto or Apple CarPlay system on board, that’s great because Chargemap Is compatible*! You’ll find the charging stations logged into your favourites on the dashboard. Then all you have to do is launch the navigation system (default setting to your GPS app).
*Chargemap on Android Auto is only available as a beta test version for the moment. If you want to become a tester, all you need to do is to follow the instructions on one of the following links:
→ link on computer
→ link on Android smartphone
✔︎ Get yourself a charging badge
The charging badge is the must-have item when you travel. Today, paying for your charges without a (physical or virtual) badge and just using a credit card is simply not feasible. So make sure you get one before you go on holiday.
There is a multitude of badges on the market. To avoid piling them up and to simplify your charging experience, multi-network badges are proposed by mobility service providers (MSPs) like Chargemap. For example, the Chargemap Pass can connect you up to more than 100,000 charging points belonging to thousands of different networks in Europe.
✔︎ Safe (and hassle-free) charging
Going on holiday with COVID still looming implies taking even more safety precautions to prevent the virus from spreading. All the usual safety measures must of course be applied when you are charging your EV.
Tactile screens at the charging stations and the connector handles can be high risk vectors of transmission. You should therefore wear a mask and wash your hands with soap or hand sanitiser before and after each charge.
3. How much does it cost to charge my electric vehicle?
There are many charging stakeholders on the market and the pricing systems are so complex they can rapidly put the dampers on your charging experience.
The rates posted up at the charging stations are only valid if you use the badge of the network in question or if you pay for your charge with a bank card at the rare charging stations proposing this option.
Otherwise, always remember to consult the charging rates applied by your MSP at the time you are charging. To do this, log in to your MSP’s website or app. This will prevent those unpleasant surprises when you receive your bill.
On this subject, we have some excellent news for Chargemap Pass users: the screen showing our charging rates on the Chargemap mobile app have been simplified 🥳
Three key concepts: easy-to-read, easy-to-understand and hassle-free 🧘♂️
No more moments of frustration when you tussle with the charging station – simply check out your Chargemap app to understand the charging rates applied at the time of charging.
You can also monitor your charging expenses more easily with the Chargemap Pass by consulting your charging history. To avoid any confusion, the calculation of your charge is given in greater detail and reminds you of the rates applied at the time of charging.
We hope this article has been helpful and that you will have the opportunity of travelling by electric vehicle in the very near future, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keep us up to date with everything – have you already planned to travel during the next school holidays? If so, don’t forget to take your trusty travel companion Chargemap with you 😉
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