A family road trip from northern France to the French Riviera has highlighted the country’s extensive electric vehicle charging network, while also revealing the practical challenges drivers may face during long-distance travel in extreme summer heat.
Planning a holiday to Montauroux, near Nice, one family decided to swap their aging petrol-powered vehicle for a second-hand electric Volkswagen ID.4 before setting off on the 1,250-kilometre journey from Cherbourg. The route, which typically requires about 12 hours of driving, was divided into two days with an overnight stop.
Ahead of the trip, the family researched charging options and expected to rely mainly on two popular charging services. Once on the road, however, they discovered that using multiple charging providers was almost unavoidable, eventually downloading six different mobile applications to access charging stations and payment systems.
Despite the inconvenience of managing several apps, the charging infrastructure exceeded expectations. High-speed charging stations were widely available along France’s motorway network, generally appearing every 75 to 100 kilometres. Most chargers delivered enough power to recharge the vehicle in around 30 to 40 minutes, allowing drivers to continue their journey with minimal delays.
Large supermarkets also offered charging facilities, although many operated at slower charging speeds than motorway stations.
Charging costs compared favorably with Ireland. The family found that one charging provider offered some of the lowest rates through a monthly subscription, with electricity costing about €0.44 per kilowatt-hour. Other operators charged between €0.50 and €0.58 per kilowatt-hour for rapid charging, still below current Irish public charging prices.
One technical issue occurred when the vehicle failed to disconnect from a charging point. After contacting the operator’s customer support line, staff remotely released the charging cable within minutes, preventing any major disruption to the trip.
The return journey presented different challenges as a severe heatwave swept across France. Temperatures ranging from 38C to 42C forced the family to leave a day earlier than planned and keep the vehicle’s air conditioning running throughout the drive to ensure passengers and their dog remained comfortable. The constant use of climate control reduced driving range and resulted in additional charging stops.
High temperatures also affected mobile phones, which drained more quickly while drivers relied on them to operate charging applications and navigate between charging stations.
France’s motorway tolls remained another significant expense. Electric vehicles receive no discount, meaning drivers pay the same toll charges as petrol and diesel vehicles.
The family spent €269 on electricity for the return journey between Cherbourg and Montauroux, compared with an estimated €308 in petrol costs for a similar trip. Motorway tolls added another €257 to the overall travel bill.
The experience demonstrated that long-distance electric vehicle travel across France is increasingly practical thanks to the country’s growing charging network, although careful planning remains essential, particularly during periods of extreme summer weather.
