Thinking about peak travel in an EV?

A little bit of planning makes all the difference.

Excited about going on a summer road trip in an EV? You should be, it’s a great way to travel. But thinking ahead about your route, your charging and what you’re doing along the way can make everything more enjoyable for all.

Plan to be flexible

Travelling over summer means you’ll be travelling at the same time as lots of other people. Study a few routes to your destination if possible. That way, if you find one is busy or blocked, it’s not a big stress or disruption to change route. Allowing extra time so you’re not fretting about arriving on time is also a good way to make sure things stay relaxed and enjoyable.

Top up before you go

Setting off with at least 80% charge gives you the most flexibility, you can get further down the road or change your plans without being limited by low charge.

Give yourself a buffer

With more travellers on the road, chargers are going to be busy too. It’s a good idea to pull in with 20% charge, that way if there’s big queues or any issues at the charging point, you’ve got plenty of charge to get you to an alternative spot to top up.

Make the most of charging time

Use your charge up time to break up the journey and squeeze in some extra fun to your road trip. Here are a few ideas for things you can do while you charge up.

• Hop off the main road and find a nice local spot to eat

• Find a place to charge that has a good place to let the dog, or the kids stretch their legs and enjoy the fresh air

• See a local sight, lots of small towns are filled with hidden historic wonders

• Do some shopping on the way and arrive at your destination with fresh local produce

For help planning, check out this guide for chargers near family-friendly attractions.
Remember, we’re always here to show you where you can find charging on your chosen route – just download our free app and search for our chargers, see what’s available near you in live time, and filter for your preferred charger speed and connector type to minimize wait time.

Check the temperature

15-35° could well be your car’s battery sweet spot. To help, you can park in the shade or in a garage if it’s convenient. And some EVs also have preconditioning features to heat or cool the battery to keep it at its optimum performance and driving range. Get clued up with our article on battery temperature.
If your EV has cabin preconditioning, that can also be useful. When charging, it lets you power your AC using energy from the grid, not your battery, and cool the cabin to a comfortable temperature.
As extreme heat can increase tyre pressure, it’s worth remembering overinflated tires can affect performance and driving range. It’s worth giving them a check before setting off.

Take the right kit

It never hurts to have a few essentials on hand in your EV. A breakdown kit, first aid pack, non-perishable food, appropriate charging cables, USB and portable charger could give you peace of mind for any occasion. Head here for a checklist.
Add plenty of reusable water bottles, a cooler box, and a picnic blanket to the list in summer. Carrying a windscreen sunshade to park your EV in the sun also makes a lot of sense. It should stop those ‘It's boiling in here!’ moments and stop you blasting your AC and eating up charge.

Are we there yet?

Keeping younger passengers entertained is a headache as old as travel. Prevent boredom and limit screen time with cards, games or puzzles. And for little artists, drawing and colouring-in books are a must.
These days, tech will almost inevitably make an appearance. Downloading music and movies to your devices ahead of time means even if your signal drops, the entertainment doesn’t stop.

Pack safe

Lots of loose items in the boot can be very dangerous in the event of an accident.
Pack into bags and use your load cover if you have one. Remember not to obscure your view by cramming everything in. Hanging seatback organizers can add storage and keep things in a safe place – including beloved teddy bears.
If you do have lots to carry, you can always add a roof box to attach to a roof rack, or a hitch-mounted cargo containers for the rear of your EV. When mounting anything, including bike racks, it’s worth remembering too much drag can affect efficiency and range.