Charging In France

[Fast Bug]

Afternoon people, we're going on holiday im France soon and would like to get ahead of the curve. Any suggestions on which apps I'll need to cover most bases for charging when I'm out there. Or can I get by with contactless payment?

I seem to be getting conflicting info from different websites.

Thanks!

[PetrolHeadInRecovery]

Fast Bug said:

Afternoon people, we're going on holiday im France soon and would like to get ahead of the curve. Any suggestions on which apps I'll need to cover most bases for charging when I'm out there. Or can I get by with contactless payment?

I seem to be getting conflicting info from different websites.

Thanks!

For DC charging: Ionity Passport Power contract will save money pretty much immediately. FastNed as the primary backup (not stupidly expensive in France even with contactless payment).

For AC, I've been using RFID card provided by Hyundai. I have a couple of other ones as backup, e.g. move.ch doesn't require Swiss address. More for the peace of mind than actual use; AC charging is mostly for overnight stays, and the hotel staff (for example) should be able to tell what to do.

[Rhonda]

I’m down here at the moment and mainly using IONITY with the power subscription. I have used my octopus Electroverse card as well. Using one of the IE chargers I paid 19 euro cents a kw with that.

[RotorRambler]

How about the Tesla ones?
If you can see it on the app (without Tesla associated) it s open to all.
At a glance, good prices & coverage.

[Knock_knock]

I just use Octopus Electroverse. You don't need to be customer, can just link it to a credit card.

You get an RFID card which seems to work pretty universally, and the app can control some chargers too.

Worked really well in France last year, and looks like it will do well in Germany this year.

Personally I wouldn't be bothered looking elsewhere.

[Fast Bug]

Thanks all. Where we're staying has a charger, so think I'll only need to use public chargers once or twice. Just dont fancy faffing about with the family in tow

[Knock_knock]

Fast Bug said:

Thanks all. Where we're staying has a charger, so think I'll only need to use public chargers once or twice. Just dont fancy faffing about with the family in tow

Hardest part I found of charging in France was that the bright sunlight always seemed to be directly on the charger screen and I couldn't see what I was supposed to do!

[ZesPak]

Fast Bug said:

Thanks all. Where we're staying has a charger, so think I'll only need to use public chargers once or twice. Just dont fancy faffing about with the family in tow

I do it a couple of times a year, but exclusively Tesla chargers.
With the family I find it hardly a hassle, the Tesla ones are often at a hotel or similar just off the highway. Ideal to stretch the legs and do a sanitary stop.
I do "force" the young kids to go to the bathroom, which fills up your charging time quite quickly. Few things as annoying as "I need to take a wee" 5 minutes after you've set off from a 20 minute charging stop.

Edit: Tesla or not, there's a couple of "hot spots", and at some locations there's only about ~6 chargers, so plan your route a bit and check the availability of the chargers before you go. The ones off the highway are usually quite open, but there are some busy ones along the route.

Edited by ZesPak on Thursday 12th June 09:41

[mdk1]

Get yourself a Chargemap RFID card, works on 99% of chargers in France.
Drove from Kent down to the south of France last year 800miles overnight with no problems, stopped 3 times going down and I think 4 times coming back, door to door in 13.5 hours including charging and Eurotunnel.
If you get a Revolut card you can assign to the Chargemap card so you don’t pay any currency exchange on charging cost.
Also get a toll tag if you haven’t already got one, saves so much hassle.

[quinny100]

Tesla plus Octopus Electroverse has covered all of my charging needs in the UK, Belgium, Germany and France.

In France Ionity, Fastned and Total seemed to be the most prevalent rapid charging networks on the main routes and it covers all of those, plus a lot of other AC charging providers.

Electroverse is free so no need to pay for a Charge map card. If you use Octopus for your domestic utilities you can charge it straight to your electric bill with no currency faff. 8% discount if you’re on some the EV tariffs too.