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Smooth sailing with the kids on long EV trips
Think of travelling with kids and one cliché image springs to mind straight away. Squabbling, thirst, hunger and, erm … urgent bathroom breaks. Sadly, that cliché didn't come from nowhere. Got kids in the back bursting with energy? Then it's the perfect moment to charge up your car. And let your kids blow off some steam. With the tips in this article, the perfect charging break becomes child's play.
Charging break? Bathroom break!
After a good 2 hours on the road in your EV, your battery's nearly empty and your bladder's nearly full. Not to mention nappies. So you'd rather not charge on a deserted industrial estate with no toilets (or worse: with a single portaloo).
Want to combine your charging and bathroom break? Then don't just pull up at the first free charge point you spot. With the Q8 app or ABRP (A Better Routeplanner), you can filter for full-service stations with toilets along your route. Good to know: at Q8's manned motorway stations, you'll always find clean toilets, changing tables and a shop.
Playtime during charging time
Tempers on the back seat have a habit of flaring up during the drive. So kids need a chance to unwind, but playing on motorway car parks is simply too dangerous. Luckily, plenty of charge points sit near a park, wood or playground.
Is your charging spot no playground?
Of course, charging on a motorway car park is sometimes the easiest option. And that's when boredom hits the back seat fast. Older kids might even wander off to explore the car park on their own. So how do you keep the back seat entertained at moments like these?
With the 5 best ways to pass the time at the charge point, you'll keep the kids busy:
Charge point bingo: Who's first to spot these things around the charge point?
Move it, move it: Charging the car, charging the kids too.
Back-seat treasure chest: A surprise box that only opens at charging stops.
Guess the percentage: Who lands closest to the battery level you set off with?
Dream charging station: What if … the kids got to design a charging spot?
Plan B: turn the charging stop into screen time. While the kids are glued to a screen, you've got the time and hands free to charge up your car (and yourself ;-)).
No routine on the route
It never fails. The moment you stop to charge, it's just not mealtime. But the kids are hungry anyway. Or, just as annoying: your child has fi-na-lly nodded off right before your charging stop … So how do you best handle hungry or sleepy kids?
Put together a snack box that's only allowed open while you're charging. That way you curb the hunger and your kids always have something to look forward to. And your sleeping little one? The big advantage of an EV is that you can simply leave the air conditioning on, with no rumbling engine or exhaust fumes.
Recommended by experts
In short, plan your drive like you plan your trip. Take plenty of time and relax when you can. The Q8 app helps you map it all out. A nice bonus: with an EV you automatically follow the experts' advice to take a proper break every 2 hours.
The best spots with our charge card
With the Q8 electric charge card, you have access to around 99% of all charge points in Europe. So you can always find a kid-friendly spot, wherever you are. Order your charge card before you set off!