article

Commuting by electric car – how it works

04/06/20

When considering buying an electric car, you’ll doubtless read about both the pros and cons. The advantages often include reduced costs for operation and fuel, while the disadvantages often have to do with the limited distance that electric cars can usually cover. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to commute by electric car. The vast majority of electric cars can handle what you might call normal commuting, but there are a couple of things that you should keep in mind.

Which cars will take you the furthest?
If you live quite a distance away from your workplace, you need a car that you can drive for a long time without it needing charging. Tesla is the car brand that has taken on the role of providing the best overall performance and it’s also the car that takes you the furthest. Tesla Model S Long Range takes you as far as 600 km in favourable conditions, which means that in practice you would be able to commute from Stockholm to Malmö. This is, of course, a commute that is longer than the norm, but it may be worth keeping in mind that such a range is also good to have when there’s a long distance between charging stations, as may be the case in some parts of the country.
Other cars on the list include the Jaguar I-Pace (450 km), Kia e-Niro (400 km) and Hyundai Kona Electric (400 km). Mercedes, Audi and Nissan also have cars that can drive a long distance on one charge, which means that those who need a longer range have a number of good options to choose from at present.
If your commute is around 50–100 km, you can often manage it in a single charge with more modest electric cars, even if you only have the option to charge your car at home. However, it naturally helps if you can charge your car while you work.

Does the company you work for have charging stations?
Many companies install charging stations that their employees can use freely (as long as the number of electric car drivers doesn’t exceed the number of charging points). If this is the case at your workplace, you can halve the distance you need your electric car to be able to take you by charging your car at work.
If your company doesn’t have a charging station, it may be the case that they’re waiting for demand to increase, so it’s not a bad idea to make a request. Charge Amps has developed one of the smallest charging stations on the market, the Charge Amps Halo charging station, making it the perfect choice if space is limited.

Where are the charging stations?
For those who have an electric car that doesn’t have quite the same long range as the models we’ve mentioned above, it might be a good idea to take a look at a charging map. It’s never pleasant to drive with a battery that’s running low, which is why it’s good to know where the charging stations are located. If nothing else, it can help give you peace of mind, something that’s always recommended when you are out driving.
There are several different websites with maps of charging stations, both in Sweden and abroad. One example of such a website is Miljöfordon (Green Vehicles), where you can easily filter by socket type or location. On the map, you can see that there are plenty of charging stations around our big cities, but the further north you go,
especially in northwestern Sweden, the less frequently charging stations can found. So if you’re going to drive your electric car to the ski resort of Åre, for example, it may be a good idea to prepare yourself by making sure you’re well informed of where the charging stations are before you go.

What charging cables do you need when commuting?
There are situations that you’ll definitely want to avoid when commuting, including standing out in the rain with ten different charging cables and trying to understand which one works for which station.

Here are two different charging cables that will make your life on the road easier:

1. Charge Amps Ray from Charge Amps
Charge Amps Ray from Charge Amps is a cable that is specially designed for those customers who want that little extra. With its narrow, lightweight control box, flexible cable and ergonomic grip, charging your car is a breeze – and it’s stylish into the bargain. The cable is suitable for charging in mode 2, types 1 and 2, is 7½ metres long and temperature-resistant.

2. Charge Amps Beam from Charge Amps
Charge Amps Beam from Charge Amps can be used at all public charging stations throughout Europe. This is a result of the expansion of the charging infrastructure across Europe and the existence of a common standard for new charging stations, known as mode 3 type 2. Charge Amps Beam is a user-friendly, flexible cable that charges up to 20 amps from public charging stations and charging points. The cable is five metres long and can withstand both very low and high temperatures. This is the perfect choice if you want a cable that you know will work everywhere, particularly when you’re abroad.

Commuting by electric car – the future is here
Just ten years ago, it sounded more or less like a fantasy to be able to commute long distances with an electric car. Thanks to expanded charging infrastructure, more companies installing charging stations and the increasing range of electric cars, it’s now possible to commute across pretty much the whole of Sweden. We invite you to take a look at our range and let us know if you have any questions. We help you navigate through the cable jungle!

Read our latest articles