Charging your EV before a holiday: travel relaxed

Charge your EV before your holiday and choose the right charging strategy

A successful holiday trip in an electric car begins the day before departure. Many people simply charge the battery to full overnight at their wallbox. But beware: the cells suffer if the car sits in the driveway at 100% for hours. To protect the battery, bring its state of charge (SoC) to the maximum only shortly before setting off.

A tip: use your car's timer function. That way the battery is full just when you turn the key. Experienced EV drivers avoid leaving a battery sitting at full charge for long periods to preserve its service life over the long term.

Charge your EV before your holiday: what percentage is ideal?

For setting off straight from home, a 100% charge is ideal for maximising your EV's range. On a long-distance journey, however, things are different. To travel efficiently, choose a well-planned long-distance charging strategy. At stops along the way, it is usually wiser to charge the battery only to 80%.

Why? Beyond that level, charging speed drops dramatically in almost every model. Two short sessions at an ultra-fast charging station save you considerably more time than the laborious wait for a full charge.

Plan your route and precondition the battery

A relaxed trip calls for good tools. Reliable apps factor in current consumption and automatically find the best stops. Look specifically for High Power Charging (HPC).

For charging at the station to be truly fast, the battery needs to be at the right temperature. Simply enter the station as your destination in the navigation system. The car will then bring the battery up to operating temperature during the drive, so you can charge at the maximum kW power right away.

Find fast-charging stations and make use of holiday traffic jams

No one enjoys being stuck in traffic on holiday. If it happens, don't worry: air conditioning and heating use little energy while the car is stationary. Instead, use the time to find fast chargers away from the busy motorway. You can do that at your leisure in the JOLT app.

A small detour into town is often worthwhile. This is exactly where JOLT comes in. Our urban infrastructure is built for speed. With up to 360 kW of power, you can add up to 200 km of range in just 10 minutes. Have an espresso in the city centre, plug in briefly and carry on.

Luggage and tyre pressure: how to optimise your EV’s range before departure

Beyond fast charging, there are other simple ways to improve efficiency on the road. A fully loaded holiday car weighs considerably more and therefore uses more energy. It is best to pack heavy luggage low down and centrally in the vehicle. Bear in mind, too, that roof boxes and bicycle racks worsen aerodynamics and noticeably drain battery capacity.

When charging your electric car before a holiday, check the tyre pressure at the same time. Increase it according to the manufacturer's specifications for a fully loaded vehicle; the right values are usually on a sticker in the door frame. This reduces rolling resistance, protects the battery and helps you optimise your EV's range. You will travel more efficiently and reach your destination safely.

Travel checklist

To be prepared and avoid expensive roaming surprises, take a quick look at these points:

☐ Check whether charging cards and tariffs work abroad.

☐ Activate preconditioning in the navigation system before your charging stop.

☐ Look for alternative charging points in case the main routes are crowded.

☐ Use flexible payment options at the charging stations.

With modern HPC technology, you can arrive without stress. It's sustainable and leaves you free to focus on your holiday.

→ Find JOLT fast-charging stations now