Electric car road trip tips

13/10/2022

What you need to know before setting off on a lengthy road trip in your electric vehicle (EV).

While Australia’s electric car charging network is expanding, the infrastructure is still in its infancy.

Long-haul EV road trips, therefore, require careful forethought and contingency plans to ensure they proceed smoothly.

Have options for charging and route

Having a Plan B is crucial when plotting out a long-haul trip in your electric vehicle. While it is growing, Australia's charging infrastructure density – especially in regional centres – is not sufficient for road trippers to be casual about when and where they will recharge.

Have a backup route in case your original plan is no longer viable due to chargers being out of service, over-optimistic driving range or other unforeseeable events.

Consider if your accommodation has charging amenities

As EVs become more popular, an increasing number of venues are offering EV charging amenities. It's worth factoring in whether an establishment you're planning to stay at offers this, as charging your vehicle overnight can drastically cut down on the time spent charging come the following day.

Consider the charging time

It takes more time to 'fill up' an electric car than it does with an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle and their driving range is generally less. Because of these factors, EV road trippers are likely to make more stops – with each taking longer – than ICE vehicle drivers.

The time elapsed for charging stops can stack up quickly over the course of an entire road trip, so make sure to factor this in when planning your getaway.

Allow time for contingencies

As with the previous tip, there are different variables and contingencies an EV road tripper faces compared to an ICE one.

Much fewer charging stations exist than fuel bowsers, especially in regional areas, and this can add considerable and unpredictable time to your day's travels.

A busy petrol station may mean a wait of a few minutes before you reach a bowser, however a queue for occupied charging stations can add hours to your trip out of nowhere.

Try to be conservative in the distance between your next accommodation and plans when travelling in your EV or try to time your charging stops at off-peak times.

Download charging station apps before you set off

Pay-to-use charging stations will generally require an app to operate. Getting signal to download these apps can be difficult – or downright impossible – to do in some regional areas, so it pays to download any (if not all) of the different charging operators' apps before you set off.

Take your own adapter cables

EVs and charging stations can come with a few different types of charging sockets, and you don't want to arrive to a charging station only to find out it won't suit your vehicle.

A set of adapter cables is a must for long trips in your EV as they will allow you to charge your car from any charging station you may come across, even if the vehicle is not fitted with a compatible plug.

Be aware of potential impacts to driving range

Plan your trip – and the distances between stops – based on what sort of climate you're likely to encounter.

As you might find in freezing Tasmania, battery range of EVs is heavily affected by cold weather. If you are likely to go through colder regions, be extra conservative with your estimated driving range and plan accordingly.

Remember too, if you are towing or your vehicle is heavily loaded this can also affect the quoted or normal range of your car.

Driving into strong headwinds has also been shown to reduce range.

Article written and supplied by the NRMA