Road Trip: Charging in Belgium

[MattyD803]

Hi All,

Off for a mini break over to Bruges, taking the iX3 for it's first proper long distance run out. Door to door (to the hotel) the outward trip will be c. 190 miles, so certainly no issue getting there, even with traffic & poor weather etc but no choice but to charge up before the return trip. (Note: DFDS Dover to Dunkirk)

I've never charged away from the home in my 6 months ownership, let alone abroad, just wondered if anyone could give any experience or advice on charging in Belgium? Assume one always takes their own cables just to be safe?

The large underground parking area next to the hotel appears to be home to Optimile, Blue Corner and Interparking charging bays...any in particular to go for / avoid? Or shall I get all 3 Apps and cover myself that way?

Thanks in advance,
Matt

[df76]

Was just about to suggest that you charge up at eurotunnel each way, but you’re on a ferry…

First thing I’d do is check options for a convenient Tesla charger on the route. My Electroverse app shows a whole range of options in Bruges itself, so can’t see it being a big problem.

[MattyD803]

Thanks for responding. Yes, DFDS ferry to/from Dunkirk. Is the Tesla supercharger network open to all in Belgium then?

Don't get me wrong, a quick search on google maps has revealed lots of chargers along the main routes, it's just the admin/reliability/cost side of things I guess I am a little uncertain of.

I have an Ionity and BP Pulse account provided with my vehicle, but I assume neither of those will help me out much in France or Belgium....?

[39sl]

The short answer is yes, lots of Tesla chargers open to non Tesla in Belgium, including the Dunkirk Tesla chargers.
I’d suggest you download the Tesla app, register and it will then show you which chargers can be used on non Tesla cars

HTH
Steve

[MattyD803]

Thanks Steve, will do just that. The Superchargers at Auchen look potentially ideal.

[theboss]

There's a supercharger installation in the car park of this hotel just off the E40 at Bruges which I've used to charge my iX

https://weinebrugge.be/en/

If you stay in the City centre it's likely you'll find a hotel either with an AC charger in the car park, or alternatively my experience of Belgium is that 3-phase AC chargers are also generally very widely available on-street and in car parks.

[raspy]

Why not just use the BMW charging card/app?

That’s what I did with my iX when I drove to Europe. Easy peasy.

[theboss]

raspy said:

Why not just use the BMW charging card/app?

That’s what I did with my iX when I drove to Europe. Easy peasy.

As did I, but I use Tesla wherever possible now. Have you not seen the prices recently?

[MattyD803]

raspy said:

Why not just use the BMW charging card/app?

That’s what I did with my iX when I drove to Europe. Easy peasy.

Great shout - I've got the card, but for some silly reason I assumed it was limited to Ionity and BP Pulse access only? Having just looked again (having never used it) I realise it now provided RFID access to lots of suppliers in Europe. Thanks for advising.

[MattyD803]

theboss said:

There's a supercharger installation in the car park of this hotel just off the E40 at Bruges which I've used to charge my iX

https://weinebrugge.be/en/

If you stay in the City centre it's likely you'll find a hotel either with an AC charger in the car park, or alternatively my experience of Belgium is that 3-phase AC chargers are also generally very widely available on-street and in car parks.

Thanks. We are staying at the Albert Hotel which is directly adjacent to 't Zand, which should have all the charging we need, charged conveniently overnight. Will bare that supercharger site in mind.

I charged away from home for the first time yesterday up at an Osprey CCS charge point at a Garden Centre near Wakefield and it was an absolutely breeze - I barely had time to have a mooch around, buy some lawn seed and finish a latte before spotting that we were at 98% from 11%....magic. I now feel alot more confident in the whole affair, especially now I realise I can use the BMW charging card for easier access / payment.