Worry free EV life – Traveling across Europe

Looking into travel trends in Europe, 2 of 3 Europeans plan to spend time in their own or neighboring country. This provides a perfect opportunity to try out new forms of travel, such as going by EV, especially for those who are looking for “offsite” spots and are into individual and comfort traveling while taking care of their CO2 footprint.

As electric mobility is still a comparatively new topic, there are still a few prejudices surrounding it. E-mobility would be a purely urban topic for short distances, long journeys would be taboo due to its range, in rural regions there would be no charging stations anyway, or there would be no more space in the car itself due to the large batteries. What unites all these fears at their core is the concern that when switching from a conventional vehicle with an internal combustion engine to one with an electric motor, it comes with loss of several comforts one has become accustomed to over the years.

With a maximum range of up to 440 kilometers (WLTP), the smart #1 offers more than enough opportunities to escape the narrow streets of city centers and is far more than just an urban vehicle to ferry to the nearby supermarket and back. Figuratively speaking, this range offers the possibility to drive from Munich to Frankfurt, from Lyon to Zurich, from Paris to Rotterdam or from Madrid to the Mediterranean Sea in one trip.

To avoid arriving at the Mediterranean Sea without luggage, the new smart #1 offers a trunk capacity of up to 411 liters. That is more than enough storage space to pack a cooling bag, snacks, a barbecue, a couple of chairs and a swimming ring to enjoy the day at the waterfront to the fullest. By the time of the first swim or firing up the barbecue, the smart #1 is already recharged. From 10 to 80 % in just under 30 minutes using 150 kW DC technology, or in less than 3 hours using 22 kW AC technology.

The charging ecosystem, that is built on smart’s partnership with ABB E-Mobility (ABB) and Digital Charging Solutions (DCS), ensures a convenient refueling experience and well-developed infrastructure.

Plan (personal) re-charge

It’s not like you’re not flexible on the road when travelling with a smart #1, but it’s recommended to plan your journey in advance. Since not every country in the world follows the same standards, it’s good to identify charging points as well as hot spots with fast charging solutions in advance. This includes an overview of charging providers and related requirements to use the charging points. Thanks to the partnership with DCS, the smart #1 navigation function can route the driver to one of more than 290,000 European charging points when needed. The Hello smart App map can also reveal important charging station information such as opening hours, availability, type of connector, location, and price.

Choose wisely

If traveling in an electric vehicle, drivers are well advised to choose an accommodation according to the needs of the mobile companion. Just as the driver needs rest, so does it. A hotel, guesthouse or accommodation that also offers charging facilities is the perfect choice to recharge overnight.

Expect the unexpected

That's why you shouldn't plan your route to use up 100 per cent of your (and your car's) battery. Be it an unexpected traffic jam, a diversion, or an unforeseen mishap. Plan ahead to always have at least 20 percent of the battery left when you reach your destination.

Even though it is important to plan a trip well in advance, not everything can be planned completely. Even in such a case, the driver can rely on the smart #1 having access to a large European charging infrastructure.

While the Netherlands provides more than 80,000 public charging points, Austria provides access to a public charging station every 80 kilometers. Slovenia scores with a broad charging infrastructure along the motorways, while in Switzerland, there are already more charging stations than petrol stations.

Electric travel is certainly something different and new, with a little planning and composure, there's no need to compromise on experiencing exciting trips and journeys with the all-new smart #1.