On the road: charging stations and rapid chargers
On the motorway you charge at rapid chargers; the cable is attached there. At regular public charging stations you use your own Type 2 charging cable: that standard applies across Europe. Take a charge card or app that also works abroad. Read more about the difference in Rapid charging or charging at home: how long does charging take?
At the campsite
Many campsites have a blue CEE hook-up (230V). It's often fused at only 6 to 10A, and several pitches share the same circuit. So always ask first whether you may charge your car; sometimes the campsite charges a fee or has dedicated charging spots.
Most people charge at the campsite with their regular portable charger for a wall socket: single-phase, 16A at most (3.7 kW). Because the campsite hook-up often supplies less, you set that charger lower, for example to 6 or 8A. You then charge at about 1.4 to 1.8 kW: a few hours already give back a good chunk of range, but a full charge takes a long time.
If there's only a blue CEE hook-up, you need an adapter: a CEE adapter for your three-phase charger, or the Besen smart portable charger. It comes with six interchangeable adapters, including one for the blue CEE hook-up.
Three-phase power and adapters
Some campsites, farms and holiday parks have a red CEE outlet (three-phase). With a three-phase portable charger you charge much faster there, up to 11 or 22 kW if your car can take it. With a CEE adapter you can also connect a three-phase charger to a blue CEE outlet, a red one with a different rating or a regular wall socket. Make sure the plug fits: blue and red CEE outlets come in 16A and 32A.
Always set your charger to the lowest current in the chain. If you use a 32A charger through an adapter on a 16A outlet, set it to 16A or lower.
Wall sockets abroad
In most of Europe a regular Schuko plug fits. In countries such as Switzerland and the United Kingdom it doesn't. Charge there at a charging station rather than with a light travel adapter: that isn't made to carry high current for hours.
What should you bring?
- Your own Type 2 charging cable for public charging stations.
- A portable charger for the campsite or your holiday address, possibly with a CEE adapter.
- A charge card or app that works abroad.
- A storage bag, so everything stays tidy in the boot.
The number plate check shows which charging cables and chargers fit your car.