Pitchup’s electric vehicle camping guide: Tips for a smooth adventure!
So, you're ready to hit the open road with your electric vehicle (EV)?
Whether you own your car or have rented an electric vehicle specifically for your holiday, follow our steps below to help you plan, pack and prepare for a perfect trip.
1. Choosing the perfect campsite
Top of your priority list should be choosing a place to stay. As driving ranges increase on newer electric vehicles, your choice of campsites, glampsites or caravan sites expands, so it's worth spending some time choosing a place that perfectly fits your needs and those of your travel companions.
While some campers prefer a site with plenty of amenities such as swimming pools, restaurants and live entertainment, for others the quiet stillness of a ‘nearly wild’ rural campsite is what beckons, with only the local wildlife for company. Whatever your preference, use the ‘Electric vehicle charging’ filter on Pitchup.com to explore sites across Europe where you can stop to rest, explore and unplug, with the reassurance that you can plug in your car to charge, ready to fuel the rest of your adventure.
Pitchup tip: Be aware that sites with electricity available at pitches may not allow you to use these points to charge your vehicle. Be sure to check in advance with the site, or, for ease and peace of mind, use our 'Electric vehicle charging point' filter to find sites with dedicated EV charging facilities.
2. Planning your journey and charging stops in advance
Along with choosing the ideal site, it's worth considering any day trips and whether you’ll need to factor charging outside of your chosen campsite into your plans – much like you’d plan fuel stops for a standard car.
Zap map is a great tool for checking charging locations across the UK and Europe, to help you plan how and where to charge on the go if you need to top up while out and about. You can conserve energy by driving in eco mode to preserve your charge and range, and also try to limit any extra luggage on your day trips to keep any unnecessary weight down.
Charging doesn’t have to be a chore! Picking your charging location wisely means you can explore the local area, stop for lunch and stretch your legs, or let the kids or the dogs burn off some energy.
Pitchup tip: Some visitor attractions have EV charging stations in their car parks, so you may not need to change your plans at all. Look up the details before your arrival so you can arrive, relax and enjoy your day without needing to worry. Check out resources such as this guide to EV charging days out in the UK to help you plan your activities.
3. Extra benefits from an EV camping trip
Camping with an electric vehicle comes with other great unexpected benefits. You can use it to charge your tech or any gadgets you’re taking away with you, with some EVs having their own AC sockets to charge more powerful items such as laptops, fan and even mini fridges.
Electric vehicles can be a great shelter in adverse weather conditions too, with many models having a ‘camp mode’ which will keep the air circulating at night without disturbing your neighbours! Additionally, they provide extra storage space where an engine would normally be, meaning you don’t have to worry about how you’ll pack all those camping essentials.
Pitchup tip: While choosing a camping holiday already produces lower emissions than other types of holiday, making the journey and exploring in an EV will help to lower your carbon footprint even more, helping you to travel responsibly and preserve the environment for future generations.
4. Preparing for the challenges of camping with an EV
Range anxiety can be a worry for some when using an EV, and may even put others off completely. However with the tips above, plus a little research and preparation, you can have a smooth and stress-free journey.
For those who like more reassurance, you can buy portable charging adaptors as a back up, and improve the range of your EV in simple ways such as bringing less camping gear with you, or packing lightweight items only.
Pitchup tip: Use battery packs to charge your electronic devices rather than relying on your car to save energy.
5. Take a test drive
There is no harm in taking a ‘practice’ run by booking a campsite close to home to test your EV's features and range and get familiar with locating and using EV charging stations. A little practice could go a long way towards creating the perfect trip for you and your family… and it's the perfect excuse for a mini getaway.
Pitchup tip: The easiest way to find campsites in your local area for a quick getaway is to use Pitchup's 'Camping near me' filter, which shows you everything that's open within 40 miles of your location.