Travelling to the mountains by electric car - how to succeed

Father of two Anders Aspgård has driven over 10,000 kilometres by electric car and is used to long trips to the mountains. He has travelled to both Åre and Vemdalen and is soon planning another trip to Trysil. Here he shares his top tips for a smooth journey.

Planning is key to a successful journey

Travelling by electric car requires a little more preparation than a traditional car. ‘If you leave early, you avoid the worst of the rush,’ says Anders, who always starts his trips in the morning with his family. He does careful research in advance: Are there major roadworks? Is there anything happening that could cause queues? Where are the fast chargers? To keep track of charging opportunities, he uses apps that show where charging stations are and how busy they are in real time.

Smart charging saves time

To travel efficiently, Anders always combines food stops with charging. ‘The smartest thing is to eat and charge at the same time. Check the app to see where there are queues at the moment to avoid problems,’ he explains. He also advises not to wait too long to charge, especially during winter journeys, where range is affected by the cold.

Good charging points along the way

Anders has driven Stockholm-Åre, Stockholm-Vemdalen many times and knows where the fast chargers are. Ytterhogdal and Gävle have plenty of charging stations, and along the road to Vemdalen there are several good options. He recommends avoiding Vansbro, where many people stop, and instead charge in advance or choose another location. If you do stop there, Vansbro Bröd och Bageri is a cosy stop for a coffee.

Avoid queues

During week 9, you should avoid the Vasalopp road if you are travelling to Sälen or Trysil, as the Vasalopp can cause traffic jams. ‘Driving legally is also an important part. In addition to safety, the electric car consumes significantly more energy at high speed,’ Anders points out.

With a winter range of around 400 kilometres, he has never had to queue at charging stations. By planning ahead, keeping an eye on apps and starting early, travelling by electric car to the mountains is easy and smooth.