Electric car: seven things to do during the charging break

Created: 05/09/2022, 10:00 am

By: Marcus Efler

A trip with an electric car takes longer than a trip with a diesel.

The loading breaks in particular eat up time.

If you prepare properly, you can use the half hour effectively.

Munich – Electromobility is booming.

Even if the uncertainty about the environmental bonus is likely to slow down the buying mood for Stromer, many drivers are switching when buying a new car.

What they soon learn: On longer trips, electric driving is a different kind of mobility.

You have to plan your tours better, allow more time, take more and, above all, longer breaks.

Electric car: You can do these seven things during the charging break

The car usually hangs on the cable of the quick charging station for 20, 30 minutes, if you want to fully charge an almost empty battery, you have to calculate a good hour (or longer if the plug is blocked after charging and you don't know this trick).

But that doesn't have to be wasted time.

Because you can even do these seven things during the loading break – if you prepare yourself accordingly and pay attention to a few small things.

• 1. Eat and drink.

  Sure, the snack or the cup of coffee is the first thing that comes to everyone's mind when they hear the word loading break.

  But that requires some planning (unless you have your own sandwich with you).

  Because not every charging station offers convenient amenities including catering à la Audi's Charging Hub, as VW boss Herbert Diess had to realize with disappointment.

  If you want to be sure that you will find a restaurant, you should use a corresponding app to find out exactly where the charging point is: You can always be sure that you can fill your stomach at rest stops or truck stops.

• 2. Going to the toilet.

  This is of course closely linked to point 1.

  Because where you can eat and drink, there is also a toilet not far away.

  But be careful: If you are used to paying by card or Apple Watch, you may be faced with an impassable payment barrier - because you don't have any small change with you, which you need to use the toilet at almost all rest stops.

  So always keep a few coins in the car, preferably 20, 50 cents and one euro.

• 3. Check smartphone.

  Of course everyone does anyway.

  This tip means rather NOT to do it beforehand.

  Reaching for the device quickly when you're driving down the autobahn at 120 km/h to save energy to read or even reply to messages is tempting, but also dangerous and, of course, forbidden.

  If you consciously wait until the charging stop because you have more time and peace then, you will drive more safely.

• 4. Program navigation.

  Of course, you can enter all the planned charging points and the final destination in the navigation system before you set off.

  But you can save time by only programming the first column station - and then the next one when loading.

Load and wait: Information sign for an electricity pillar.

(Iconic image) © Jan Woitas/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa/Archive

• 5. Watch movies or series.

  With a tablet or notebook you always have your cinema with you.

  Of course, if you are not driving in the Mercedes EQS with the first real autopilot, you must not allow yourself to be distracted while driving.

  However, the loading break offers a nice opportunity to watch at least part of a film or an episode of your favorite series.

  But that should be planned in advance: Downloading for offline use relieves the mobile data volume.

  Poor reception or a shaky WLAN at the charging station also lose their fright.

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• 6. Conversing.

  And with the drivers of other electric cars that you meet at the charging stations.

  Because they have become real contact points: Experiences with the Stromer models are exchanged, tips for charging or particularly recommendable rest areas, where a few columns are guaranteed to be free and also work.

  This is how you quickly become an electrical professional.

• 7. Nothing

  .

  Because simply "wasting" the time and consciously doing nothing can be very relaxing - especially if you already have a longer stage behind you or still have a long way to go.

  Maybe walk a few steps, which is easier at charging stations off the highway than at a fenced-in service area.

  So even this point needs to be planned.