Taking the electric car abroad: On a tour of duty in Poland and the Czech Republic

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Charging an electric car abroad - Article image

Many companies and municipalities in Eastern Saxony and Lusatia have already converted their fleet to electric cars in whole or in part. This is the best way to travel to work in this region. But what about trips to neighbouring countries? In general, nothing stands in the way of business trips abroad to Poland or the Czech Republic with electric vehicles - if the trip is well planned.

BEFORE TRAVELING AbROAD IN AN ELECTRIC CAR: PLANNING IS EVERYTHING

More and more charging stations are also being installed in Poland and the Czech Republic. However, the network is not yet as dense as in Germany. Especially away from the large conurbations, you can still find very few charging points. To ensure that your business trip abroad goes smoothly, you should therefore be well prepared. Choose a route that runs along as many charging stations as possible. In addition, it is not only important to know where the e-charging stations are located, but also to find out about the payment options before setting off.

Map and navigation systems are a great help. In addition to Google Maps, which increasingly lists charging stations, there is also a special route planner for electric cars on Going Electric. Here you can first enter which car you drive and which plug you use. The individual route is then calculated from this data. Information on registration and roaming options is also provided here. The route planners from ADAC and Michelin now also have a function for displaying charging stations on the selected route. For on the road, there are also various apps that are helpful in the search for charging options via location detection.

ON THE WAY FROM LAUSITZ TO POLAND

Poland currently has around 840 public charging points for electric vehicles. This puts the country at the bottom of the European rankings. In comparison: Germany has around 27,460 public charging points. By 2020, Poland wants to make at least 6,000 standard charging stations and 400 fast charging stations publicly accessible.

GreenWay Polska is currently one of the largest operators of publicly accessible charging infrastructure for electric cars. According to its own statements, users can access charging stations every 85 to 100 kilometres. GreenWay stations are mainly located on the main traffic arteries such as motorways and motorways. Type 2 plugs, Combo plugs (Combined Charging System CCS) and CHAdeMO plugs can be connected.

GreenWay stations near Lusatia can be found in Zgorzelec (A 4), Bolesławiec (A 18), Trzebiel (A 18) and in Legnica (A 4, S 3). In order to use the charging service of the GreenWay network, drivers must register in advance free of charge and provide their payment or credit card details. Those planning a trip should take care of this in good time, as an RFID card is required. Delivery of the RFID card, which is used to start the charging process, can take up to two weeks abroad after registration. Registration for one-time use is also possible.

GreenWay's roaming partners also include NewMotion and SMATRICS. However, drivers should contact GreenWay's customer service in advance to find out whether this service is available.

E-car foreign service trip TO CZECH REPUBLIC

If you are heading to the Czech Republic, you should also find out about charging and payment options in good time. There are currently around 850 public charging points, and the number is set to rise to 1,300 by 2020. Electricity suppliers in particular are committed to the development of charging infrastructure. In addition, more and more retailers and restaurants are investing in charging points.

In the Czech Republic, the Type 2 plug (also called Mennekes plug), Combo plug (Combined Charging System CCS) and the CHAdeMO plug can also be connected.

The Czech energy company ČEZ Group currently operates about 110 charging stations in the country, 59 of which are fast charging stations. On the internet portal, drivers can get an overview of their charging stations and receive important information about connection options. Each of the company's fast charging stations is equipped with DC connections or CHAdeMO and CCS charging standards, the maximum power is 50 kW. Furthermore, there is an AC charging socket with a type 2 plug and a maximum power of 22 kW.

 
 

The company's fast-charging stations close to Germany can be found near the main traffic arteries in Liberec (R 35), Stráž nad Nisou (E 442), Jablonec nad Nisou (Silnice I/14), Děčín (Silnice I/62), Trmice (D 8), Teplice (Silnice I/8) and Bílina (Silnice I/8), among others.

Registration is also necessary for use. The documents can be downloaded from the website and then sent by e-mail. The user then receives the RFID card by post within 10 working days. This allows unlimited charging within a flat rate of 450 Czech crowns per month (plus VAT). More convenient for travellers, however, is the mobile application Polyfazer Direct. This allows users to pay per minute at ČEZ charging stations.

The online portal EVMAPA is also practical. The platform offers users an interactive map of numerous charging stations of various operators - including E.ON Ceska - in the Czech Republic. Users create an account and top up their account by credit card or bank transfer. Users can then operate the charging stations via telephone, QR code or the EVMAPA website.

CONCLUSION: ON THE ROAD THROUGHOUT EUROPE WITH THE ELECTRIC CAR

In Poland and the Czech Republic, business trips abroad with an electric car are no longer a problem. Electromobility is also on the rise in our neighbours and the charging infrastructure is technically hardly any different from the one here. Nevertheless, a little planning in advance is necessary. Because the network of charging points is not yet as dense as in Germany. It is also advisable to register for the corresponding payment system at least two weeks before your first trip. For safety's sake, you should not do without the 230 V emergency charging cable. This way, your electric car will be fully charged again after a few hours or, in the case of journeys lasting several days, overnight and ready to go for the next stage.

A contribution by Stefan Oswald

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