From Berlin to Ardèche with an Electric Car
The time had come: as part of the CharIN operations team, with no e-car experience because as a city dweller, I had set my mind to test the limits of electromobility and decided to drive an electric car from Berlin to Ardèche in the south of France. After all, I also need to know what CharIN is all about in practical terms.
Because I like the thrill, I rented a stylish, whisper-quiet electric vehicle with a range of around 450 kilometers for two weeks.
The big question: can it do it?
At first, I wasn't sure whether an electric car was really the best choice for such a long-distance journey. You know the stories: too few charging stations, hours of waiting, and constantly looking anxiously at the battery indicator as if it were a countdown in an action movie. The question also arose: "What about the charging infrastructure in France? Does it work there, or will my journey end in a remote corner with my laptop as the only source of electricity?"
Stage kings: Charge, sleep, ride on
So we set off in stages, with stopovers in Bavaria, Alsace, and the Jura, where we spent one night each. For the children's sake and my nerves, I was very grateful for these 4-5 hour stages, as we managed to spend the rest of the time taking refreshing dips in the lakes.
I initially used the ADAC app to plan the route, which turned out to be unnecessary in hindsight. Our onboard navigation system reliably showed us the possible charging stations along the route, including the route there and the estimated charging time. This function proved extremely practical and relieved us of much planning stress.
Charging luck and charging worries
Everything went like clockwork on the outward journey: We drove to Thuringia without a pitstop until we had to charge for the first time at the highway service station. I still thought it would be a piece of cake. But on the way back, things suddenly got exciting: we came across several faulty charging stations in Brandenburg. It felt a bit like a scavenger hunt - only this time, the treasure was a working plug.
Another point of criticism that struck me during our trip through Germany was that you were relatively exposed to the weather at the charging stations - a roof would have been desirable here.
On the other hand, France surprised us with a much higher level of comfort on the highways. Covered charging stations and numerous picnic benches in the countryside made charging a pleasant experience, even if this was just a lucky coincidence. Even in rural regions such as Auvergne, we unexpectedly found charging stations that were slower but offered us the opportunity to take a relaxing lunch break while charging. It was also convenient that many supermarkets along our route were equipped with at least two charging points. So we could easily combine our snack shopping with charging the car.
Imponderables and unforeseen charging interruptions
What irritated me a little was the fact that I had no idea how much all the fun actually cost. Sure, the kWh prices were there (sometimes), but that was as helpful to me as a menu without prices. The bill will probably only come after the trip - I'll start a crowdfunding campaign as a precaution.
The rental company's RFID chip made charging much easier, which was a real blessing. But the charging interruptions, which sometimes happened for no apparent reason, made me break out in a sweat. I had to restart the charging process several times until I finally made it to the next station.
Conclusion: adventure successfully completed
In the end, I have to say that I am thrilled. Traveling in an electric car is much more relaxed and comfortable than I thought. I was particularly impressed by the expansion of the charging infrastructure, especially in France, where I had the impression that the country is more advanced in this respect than Germany. However, this is not meant to be a comparison of countries; it is simply a personal observation.
What I still need is an app that shows me picturesque charging locations where I can take a short walk while charging. That may be our next startup - I'm in!
Overall, I can only say about the electric vehicle adventure - test passed! And with flying colors. It was fun, it was relaxed, and I'll be driving electric again next time. Who would have thought that you could enjoy a plug-in journey so much?
