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Camping with an EV: a learning curve worth taking
There's nothing better than a trip into nature to recharge your batteries. Except when it comes to your EV's battery, that is. Because just try finding a charger in the middle of nowhere, right? We towed our caravan off to camping country (the Netherlands) and came home (smoothly) with these tips.
Don't turn your drives into an adventure
A caravan on the tow bar? The extra weight and drag shrink your range by a hefty 40 to 50%. And sadly there's nothing you can do about it. So don't make your drive too thrilling: plan enough charging stops in advance. Your best bet is drive-through fast chargers. You pull straight through like at a typical filling station, so there's no need to unhitch your caravan.
Arrive with your battery in the green
Naturally, you won't just stumble across a fast charger when you head into the wild. So make sure your battery isn't in the red when you arrive. By fast-charging one last time before you really go off the grid, you'll have enough left for a few day trips. And to make it back to civilization after your trip.
Stopping to fast-charge at Q8 electric, or with your Q8 electric charge card at one of our partners, just before you arrive? Make it a stop worth your while: quickly grab the most important RESQ items for your basket. RESQ? Those are the most frequently forgotten items, like scouring pads, hand soap, bin bags and … toilet paper. That way you're sure to be well prepared for camping life.
Charging your EV and letting it charge
Still want to charge at the campsite? You can, with the owner's permission (tip: definitely check this beforehand) and as long as you make sure you don't trip the fuses. With a special adapter plug (CEE to Schuko), you charge your EV without putting too much strain on the campsite's fuse box. Because those usually aren't built for the heavy power of a 'normal' charging cable. Do bear in mind that you'll charge quite a bit slower this way.
Also handy: you can power other devices from your EV via an adapter or built-in socket. That turns your car into a giant power bank. But won't it drain in no time at all? Nope, no stress! An average camping cool box uses 1 to 2 kWh a day. So with a car battery of around 60 kWh, you can keep it running for a week or so. Even a kettle or an electric barbecue work perfectly!
Slow travel at its best
Charging slowly, driving calmly … camping with an EV and caravan delivers the ultimate slow-travel feeling. And that's what it's all about in the end, right? So go ahead and set off in your electric car, and enjoy all the extra comfort and the quiet.
One last top-up with Q8 electric
Want to be sure you can still charge just before you arrive? Order the Q8 electric charge card and you'll reach every campsite in Europe, even one tucked away in the forests of the Black Forest, somewhere among the Tuscan vineyards or up a mountain in the French Alps.
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