Charging across Europe

[Ian Key]

Helps for swift egress though

It's so you can bump start it if the battery's gone flat

 

[EVsince2016]

That's the petrol station lol

 

[Archev]

That's the petrol station lol

How very dare you enter such a den of iniquity

 

[EVsince2016]

OK, back on with my trip!

Our stay in Portugal this time did not have any charging facilities, actually the wiring was quite old! It did come with quite a view though, the Atlantic Ocean to the front

and the mountains to the rear, with low land in the sea mist.

I used a few local chargers, this one in a nearby supermarket. As it was underground no apps would work so I had to use the Miio RFID at 56-62 p/kWh. The variation is due to charges per minute and variable costs per kWh. Ideal for the shopping duration.

The good news now, is that roaming apps now work in Portugal on most but not all chargers. I used this one in a Lidl. Activated on Electroverse for 43 p/kWh

And this one at a nearby hotel, again on Electroverse. The chargers was playing up due to a low voltage fault, so I ended up only paying 6 p/kWh

It only worked once, then failed. I also found the only the Electroverse app worked in Portugal but not the RFID card.

All things considered, charging up in Portugal was fairly easy but hasn't developed as fast as elsewhere.

 

[JohnV6]

Good to hear. It gives us novices confidence.

 

[EVsince2016]

Travelling over the tumbleweed high plains of Spain on the way out was very hot, exceeding 40C for much of it and the weather looked to be just as hot for the return. Unfortunately, due to massive wildfires, the key motorways needed were closed & power was off, evacuations in place and large swathes were no go areas.

We therefore decided to return the coastal route, the one I took in Christmas 2023 due to excessive cold, foggy, snowy weather on the high plains. The weather was dry and around 23C all day, much more enjoyable.

This route needed a bit of last minute planning, but it seems that charger numbers have more than doubled since 2023 making the option a lot easier than before.

We drove north, and again for the third time had a near miss with a drunken Portuguese driver in the same area as before, all in the vicinity of Pont de Lima, so be warned if you drive around there.

Our first stop was a Zunder near Santiago de Compostela at 48 p/kWh on auto-charge, again off the motorway, this time on a long section without junctions. Usual desolation

But at least the local wildlife liked the chargers!

After here, I cut across country on a good N road, passing several charging stations, all new before stopping at an Iberdrola unit at a Burger King in the north near Lugo. Activated on the Electroverse app, as the RFID card wouldn't work. Still not billed and I had to contact Electroverse to unlock my app as the charger failed to respond after I connected to it.

We did stop for a break & food later, these units were extortionately expensive so we didn't use them, nor did anyone else!

We then drove to Gijon. The small local Zunder unit was blocked by a Zoe trying for 100% so we went to the University college to Zunder charge. Many types of chargers here so I tried one of these and it also auto-charged! 36 p/kWh

The old option nearby looked forlorn & unloved

Driving east now across Northern Spain we did our last Zunder stop, just off the motorway at 48 p/kWh. The fire smoke blackened the sky but the very high raise sign could be seen way ahead of arrival.

We now arrived in Bilbao, a city that surprised us a lot, We will return here one day for a longer stay.

 

[EVsince2016]

Our hotel at Bilbao had free chargers (x4) without the need for activation. Topped up from 43% to full over the one night we stayed. Only 3.6 kW/h but adequate for our needs.

Walking around the city, I spotted other chargers. This one was a highlight & publicly accessible!

This building dwarfed it's company fast charger below

We needed little charge to get to the ferry home to Plymouth and on the way home I tried out Exeter Services. Many chargers but wow, very expensive.

Numbers to follow.

 

[Rolfe]

Great trip!

 

[EVsince2016]

Some basic statistics for my trip: -

• The total mileage of my trip was 2200 miles of which 1894 was abroad in France, Spain & Portugal.
• I started my trip at 100% and ended it at 8%.
• I added 586.514 kWs during my trip, so used 644.8 kWs (covering the 100-8% loss)
• That is 3.4 m/kWh added or 3.8 m/kWh used.

This is less efficient than before! Similar driving, temperatures & lower weight so maybe the new set of tyres?

I have not yet been billed for 6 chargers on Fastned, Iberdrola, Miio, but guess the cost to be £256.27. That is 11.6p/mile, not bad really

Cheapest chargers: -

• Spain Hotel = free
• Portugal Faulty 7kW EDP unit - 6p (Electroverse)
• France Tesla - 25p
• France Ionity 50kW unit - 28p (Electroverse)
• France Seige 7kW unit - 32p (Electroverse)

Most expensive charging: -

• UK Gridserve - 89p (card) - didn't have time to register for app.
• Spain Iberdrola - 72p (Electroverse)
• France Fastned - 62p
• Portugal - 62p Miio

Most used units: - Zunder

Average cost per kWh - 43.8p

Electroverse - 213.53 kW for £83.64 = 39p/kW
Zunder - 197.14 kW for £91.70 = 46 p/kW

 

[Archev]

Some basic statistics for my trip: -

• The total mileage of my trip was 2200 miles of which 1894 was abroad in France, Spain & Portugal.
• I started my trip at 100% and ended it at 8%.
• I added 586.514 kWs during my trip, so used 644.8 kWs (covering the 100-8% loss)
• That is 3.4 m/kWh added or 3.7 m/kWh used.

This is less efficient than before! Similar driving, temperatures & lower weight so maybe the new set of tyres?

I have not yet been billed for 6 chargers on Fastned, Iberdrola, Miio, but guess the cost to be £256.27. That is 11.6p/mile, not bad really

Cheapest chargers: -

• Spain Hotel = free
• Portugal Faulty 7kW EDP unit - 6p (Electroverse)
• France Tesla - 25p
• France Ionity 50kW unit - 28p (Electroverse)
• France Seige 7kW unit - 32p (Electroverse)

Most expensive charging: -

• UK Gridserve - 89p (card) - didn't have time to register for app.
• Spain Iberdrola - 72p (Electroverse)
• France Fastned - 62p
• Portugal - 62p Miio

Most used units: - Zunder

Average cost per kWh - 43.8p

Electroverse - 213.53 kW for £83.64 = 39p/kW
Zunder - 197.14 kW for £91.70 = 46 p/kW

Grand trip and enviable record keeping.

 

[EVsince2016]

Grand trip and enviable record keeping.

Thanks, considering it was my 5th of 5 longest trips / number of chargers and the easiest yet!

My trip 6 is already booked and trip 7 is in planning and trip 8 is being scoped.

What does surprise me, is how much cheaper touring in an EV is compared to jetting off somewhere on holiday and how much more you get out of these trips. That is of course, based on travelling during school holidays, which I have quite a few more years of!

 

[Archev]

Thanks, considering it was my 5th of 5 longest trips / number of chargers and the easiest yet!

My trip 6 is already booked and trip 7 is in planning and trip 8 is being scoped.

What does surprise me, is how much cheaper touring in an EV is compared to jetting off somewhere on holiday and how much more you get out of these trips. That is of course, based on travelling during school holidays, which I have quite a few more years of!

Great stuff. I’ve been invited to Stavanger, Norway and looking at the possibilities of driving but it’s perhaps more sensible flying or going elsewhere a bit closer .

 

[EVsince2016]

Great stuff. I’ve been invited to Stavanger, Norway and looking at the possibilities of driving but it’s perhaps more sensible flying or going elsewhere a bit closer .

That's only just into Norway, a few miles & a ship! Not going up to Nordkapp then?

That's under 1000 miles from Eurotunnel, shorter than my trips to Portugal!!!!!

 

[Rolfe]

Nordkapp is fabulous. When I was there it was over 20, cloudless skies and amazing views.

I went on a boat. Went on to Svalbard.

 

[EVsince2016]

Did you drive your MG4 there , , , , , ?

What boat did you use?

 

[Rolfe]

It was in 2016 and the boat was called the Marco Polo. We sailed from Leith.

 

[EVsince2016]

Sounds good, the easy way!