5 Tips for Smoother EV Charging This Summer

From lakeside escapes to coastal drives and mountain adventures, summer is the perfect time to hit the road and make memories with family and friends.

Long-distance EV travel often means thinking a little more about where and when to charge, especially when driving across multiple countries. Drivers may find themselves asking:

• Where can I charge along my route?
• How do I pay for charging abroad?
• How can I make charging stops faster and easier?

Whether you’re planning your first EV road trip or already experienced behind the wheel, these five tips will help make charging across Europe simpler and more enjoyable.

As Europe’s leading ultra-fast charging network, it’s something we know a lot about.

Here’s how to make your next EV road trip across Europe feel even smoother.

Plan smarter charging stops

Planning ahead can make summer EV travel much easier, especially on busy holiday routes. With IONITY chargers located along key travel corridors across Europe, it’s easier to plan charging stops around your journey and enjoy a more consistent charging experience along the way.

During the summer months, charging demand can vary depending on the time of day, local traffic and popular travel periods. Using a route planning tool like the one in the IONITY App can help you plan ahead, check charger availability and even view historic traffic patterns to identify quieter times to stop and charge.

The smoothest charging stops are often the ones that fit naturally into your journey, whether that’s grabbing a coffee, taking a break or stretching your legs. By combining charging with the stops you’d already make anyway, long-distance EV travel can become a more natural part of the journey.

Charge little and often on long drives

Shorter, more regular charging stops can help summer road trips feel smoother and more flexible, especially on longer journeys. Rather than waiting to charge from very low battery levels, many experienced EV drivers prefer to top up little and often so they can fit charging naturally around the breaks they would take anyway.

A common approach is to charge up to around 80% before continuing your journey, as many EVs reduce charging speeds above this level to help protect long-term battery health. This means the final 20% can take significantly longer to charge.

Charging to 80% can also help keep charging stops shorter during busy summer travel periods. It’s one of the recommendations included in our charging etiquette guide, helping reduce waiting times for other drivers and making the overall charging experience feel smoother for everyone.

And with IONITY’s ultra-fast charging network across Europe, even short charging stops can add meaningful range while you take a break before continuing your journey.

Keep cool when temperatures rise

Keeping your EV cool during summer road trips can help improve comfort and support efficient driving over longer distances.

In hotter weather, EVs may use more energy to keep the cabin and battery at their ideal temperature. Pre-cooling the cabin before setting off or while charging can help reduce the amount of energy needed once you’re back on the road, while also making the car more comfortable to return to after a short break.

During very high temperatures, some EVs may also adjust charging speeds slightly while managing battery temperature. Planning shorter charging stops more regularly throughout your journey can help make summer travel feel more relaxed and predictable on busy travel days.

And just like reaching for a beach umbrella on a hot day, your EV and your passengers will appreciate a little shade too. Parking under cover where possible can help keep the cabin cooler while you take a break from the road.

Turn charging breaks into proper breaks

Combining charging stops with proper breaks can make long summer journeys feel much more comfortable and enjoyable. And just as it’s important to recharge your vehicle, it’s important to recharge yourself too.

Many EV drivers are surprised by how easily charging fits into the breaks they would take anyway. By the time everyone has grabbed a coffee, finished eating or stretched their legs, the car is often ready to continue the journey too.

Charging stops can also be a chance to slow down and enjoy the journey a little more, whether that’s taking the dog for a walk, letting the kids burn off some energy or simply stepping away from the road for a few minutes.

When planning your next summer road trip, try using our network map to explore nearby amenities at IONITY chargers. Apps like ChargeMap, PlugShare and Zapmap can also help you discover recommendations from other EV drivers along your route.

Use live information to stay flexible

Summer road trips don’t always go exactly to plan. Traffic conditions can change throughout the day, charging demand may vary at busy travel times and sometimes the best journeys are the ones where you stay flexible along the way.

The IONITY App provides live charger availability across our network, including how many chargers are available, which charging points are currently in use and how far along active charging sessions are. This makes it easier to decide where to stop and helps you plan charging more confidently while travelling.

The integrated map can also help you quickly find alternative IONITY chargers if traffic changes your plans or you’re driving through unfamiliar areas. And once you arrive, you can use the app to start and monitor your charging sessions directly from your phone.

Drivers who prefer a simple tap-and-go charging experience can also order an RFID charging card through the IONITY App to use across our network while travelling through Europe.

Bonus: Build your perfect summer-driving soundtrack

The right soundtrack can make every summer drive feel even more memorable.

While you can’t control the traffic, the right music can completely change the mood of a journey.

Whether your soundtrack is classical, pop or electronic, summer is the perfect time to press play and enjoy the drive. Choose the songs that make you feel good and even the longest journeys can feel part of the adventure.

To help you get started, we’ve created a playlist generator that builds a personalised Spotify soundtrack tailored to you. Click here to try it for yourself.