Why does the drive home require more planning if you travel in an EV?

Travelling in an electric car is already part of the routine for thousands of drivers. However, the journey back introduces a different factor: many people return on the same day and use the same routes.

Just as traffic increases or rest areas fill up sooner, some en-route electric car charge points can see higher demand at certain times. This doesn't mean you will run out of options, but it is worth not leaving things to chance.

Today, preparing for a trip is much easier than a few years ago. Tools like Endesa On Your Way allow you to locate thousands of charge points, check their power, and identify nearby alternatives even before you start your journey.

Rather than memorising where you are going to charge, the important thing is knowing what options you have along the route. This flexibility will allow you to adapt the journey if you encounter more traffic than expected or decide to take a break earlier than planned.

If you are still organising your holiday, you might also be interested in our guide on travelling in an electric car, where you will find tips for preparing long-distance trips.

Because, ultimately, the difference between a smooth journey and one full of hiccups rarely lies in the car's range, but rather in having dedicated a few minutes to planning the return.

Before leaving: charge at your destination whenever you can

The drive home doesn't start when you start the car, but a few hours beforehand.

If your accommodation has a charge point or you have access to one nearby, take the opportunity to charge your electric car before driving back. Starting the journey with a good battery level will give you more freedom to decide when to make the first stop and will prevent the charge percentage from setting the pace of the trip.

This way you can stop when it truly suits you: to rest, have something to eat, or stretch your legs, not because the battery forces you to.

One of the most common questions is whether it is advisable to charge to 100%. On a long journey, it can be a good option provided you set off shortly after the charging is complete. If the vehicle is going to remain parked for many hours, it is best to follow the manufacturer's instructions to help preserve the battery.

Before setting off on the journey home, it is also worth checking aspects such as tyre pressure or the weight of the luggage. These are small details that help improve the real range of the electric car and can reduce the need to make a stop earlier than planned.

And if you usually charge at home, having an Endesa charge point will allow you to leave with the battery ready whenever you need it, both on holiday and in your day-to-day life.

What to do if the charge point is occupied or out of order

Although the public charging network is increasingly extensive, during the drive back, you might arrive at a station and find that all the chargers are occupied or that one is temporarily out of service.

At that moment, the best decision is not to leave things to chance.

If you have planned the route with a small battery margin, you can head to another nearby charge point without the change altering the rest of the journey. This is exactly why it is advisable to avoid arriving at the charger with the battery at its limit.

Before leaving, dedicate a few minutes to locating several stations along the route. Having a backup charging plan will ensure that any unexpected hiccup is resolved quickly and without stress.

Furthermore, many stations have multiple chargers, which increases the chances of finding a free one even on the busiest days.

Ultimately, the best way to avoid hiccups is not to trust that they won't happen, but to be prepared in case they do.

Air conditioning, luggage, and traffic jams: how they affect consumption

On a summer journey, there are three elements that are usually present: the air conditioning, a full boot, and, in many cases, a traffic jam.

All of these influence the vehicle's energy consumption, although not always in the same way.

Air conditioning needs energy to maintain a pleasant temperature in the cabin, especially when the heat is intense. However, its impact is usually moderate and shouldn't make you give up travelling in comfort. If you want to optimise consumption, a good practice is to cool the car while it is still connected to the charge point before setting off.

Luggage also matters. The greater the weight the vehicle carries, the more energy it will need to move. It's not about travelling with only the bare essentials, but rather avoiding loading objects that you are not really going to use during the journey.

And what happens with traffic jams? This is one of the most frequent doubts among those new to electric mobility. Unlike a combustion vehicle, an electric car consumes very little energy when it remains stationary. Furthermore, thanks to the regenerative braking system, it can recover some of the energy in slow-moving traffic or when driving at low speeds.

Therefore, although prolonged congestion will always lengthen the travel time, it does not usually have as high an impact on the range as many drivers imagine.

Common mistakes when driving home in an electric car

Most hiccups during the journey home have nothing to do with the car, but with planning. In fact, many can be avoided with very simple decisions before starting the journey.

One of the most common mistakes is relying solely on the officially claimed range. That figure serves as a reference, but real consumption will depend on factors such as speed, temperature, luggage, or the type of road.

It is also common to leave the first charge for when the battery is very low. On a day with heavy traffic, keeping a small margin will allow you to change stations if necessary and continue the journey with much more peace of mind.

Another common mistake is thinking that all charge points offer the same features. Before heading off-route, dedicate a few seconds to checking the available power, the type of connector, or if the station has multiple chargers. That small check can save you time during the drive home.

And, finally, remember that charging does not have to become an extra break. If it coincides with the time to rest, eat, or have a coffee, the journey will be much more comfortable for both you and the vehicle.

Checklist for a journey home without hiccups

Before closing the boot and starting the car, spend a couple of minutes checking these aspects:

• Charge the vehicle whenever you can before leaving.
• Calculate the real range, not just the claimed one.
• Plan the first stop and locate an alternative on the route.
• Check charge points from Endesa On Your Way before starting the journey.
• Try to arrive at the next station with enough battery margin to change plans if necessary.
• Take advantage of the natural breaks in the journey to recover range while you rest.

With these simple steps, charging will cease to be a concern and will become a completely normal part of the journey.

Frequently asked questions about the drive home in an electric car

Do I have to plan all the stops before leaving?

No. The idea is not to organise the trip to the minute, but to identify the charge points that best fit your route and locate an alternative in case circumstances change. That way you will have the margin to adapt the route without leaving things to chance.

Is it advisable to charge the battery to 100% before returning from holiday?

If you are going to start the journey shortly after completing the charge, it can be a good option to make the most of all the available range. If the vehicle is going to remain parked for several hours, it is best to follow the manufacturer's instructions to help preserve the battery.

What do I do if the charge point is occupied?

The first thing is to stay calm. If you have planned the journey with a small battery margin, you can head to another nearby station without altering the route. Apps like Endesa On Your Way allow you to quickly locate alternatives and continue the journey as normal.

How do air conditioning and traffic jams influence range?

Air conditioning increases energy consumption, although its impact is usually moderate. As for traffic jams, an electric car consumes very little energy when it is stationary and can recover some during braking thanks to the regenerative braking system.