Germany - the largest country in Western Europe - is no stranger to culture. From the picturesque Rhine Valley and Black Forest to the buzzing cities of Berlin and Munich, no matter what you’re looking for, Germany has the answer.
With a substantial public EV charging infrastructure, Germany has become a well-trodden path for EV drivers in the past few years, so we’ve created this guide to help you start planning your trip.
Let’s get plugged in…
Ja! Or, yes!
And with over 650,000 charge points on the Electroverse network - 114,000 of those being in Germany - it’s very easy. You can either take a ferry to France, the Netherlands, or Spain, or you can take a train (such as LeShuttle) across the channel to France and start your road trip there.
As there are no direct train connections to Germany from the UK, you’ll need to first go into France using LeShuttle (formerly known as Eurotunnel).
LeShuttle operates a direct train service from Folkestone (Kent) to Calais (France), with different ticket types priced per vehicle. Fortunately, LeShuttle also has designated charge points at both sides of its terminals, meaning you can either top up or just after your train ride - if needed!
From Calais you’ll need to plot your journey into Germany- but don’t worry, you can easily do this with the Electroverse route planner. Watch our video on how to use the route planner below.
Much like trains, there aren’t any direct ferry crossings from the UK to Germany, but there are multiple routes to France or the Netherlands if you’d like to start your journey via ferry.
Check out our blogs on driving your EV in France and the Netherlands below, to find out more details on these ferry crossings:
With over 140,000 public chargers in Germany, you’ll not be short of places to charge. To find which charge points work with Electroverse (fair warning - there’s a lot!), go into the Electroverse app and filter the map to show ‘Electroverse only’.
You can also filter for chargers that will work with the app, but we always recommend taking your Electrocard as backup in case of poor signal, dead battery etc, etc.
In addition to carrying your full driver's license, there are a few mandatory items that you must have in your car at all times when driving in Germany, otherwise, you could be faced with a fine - not what you want on holiday! To avoid fines, you must be carrying:
A warning triangle
Reflective jackets - one for each passenger in the car
Headlamp deflectors - this one is dependent on your car (as it might already be fitted), but worth checking before you go
The following don’t necessarily need to be left in your car, but you should also remember to take: your valid UK driving licence, passport, motor insurance documents and V5 registration document
Vehicles registered in the UK driving in Germany must display a UK national identifier.
This doesn’t necessarily mean a sticker - it can be within the number plate - but the letters UK need to be visible on your vehicle. If your number plate doesn’t contain ‘UK’, then you will need to get a sticker and place it next to (not on!) the registration plate.
You can buy UK car stickers online or by popping to your local Post Office.
Some drivers prefer the UK magnets rather than stickers, and this is for two reasons: No sticky residue on your vehicle when you come to remove it & you can remove the magnet when parked overnight to avoid being targeted.
Drive on the right-hand side of the road! You can overtake on the left - and at intersections, give way to oncoming traffic on your right.
Know your speed limits! Motorways allow up to 130 km/h, main roads up to 100 km/h, and urban areas up to 50 km/h.
Make sure you have valid car insurance
Driving on the Autobahn is a widely discussed topic, but did you know there are around 8,080 miles of Autobahn throughout Germany?
Despite what you might have heard, speed restrictions do apply to certain sections of the Autobahn, and these are marked with signs displaying the relevant speeds.
If there aren’t any signs to indicate speed - or you see the below sign - then you are not bound by any speed restrictions. That said, an advisory speed limit of 130 kph is recommended for all vehicles under 3.5 tonnes including passenger cars above 3.5 tonnes.
To learn more about driving on the Autobahn, head to the RAC’s guide.
Germany has many low-emission zones and vehicles are required by law to display green environmental stickers (Umweltplakette) to enter these zones - including electric vehicles.
If the green sticker is not displayed, you will face a fine of 80 euros plus 25 euros processing fee.
Electric vehicles are also required to apply for an electric sticker (E-sticker). Depending on which areas of Germany you’ll be driving through, the e-sticker can provide advantages like the use of bus lanes, free parking on the road and at electricity charging points, as well as the possible use of otherwise closed roads.
To apply for and buy the green and e-sticker, head to Umwelt-Plakette.de.
Much like the UK, the cost of chargers in Germany varies from provider to provider. The best way to find the rate you’ll be charged is to check the Electroverse app. All you need to do is open the charge point information, and the rates will be displayed. Be sure to check if there are any warning messages for parking restrictions, time-based fees, etc.
All German charge points will be billed in Euros - this means the rate will be converted to Pound Sterling through Electroverse. You can check the conversion rate on your receipt, which will be visible in your app within 24 hours of the charging session ending.
If you have a debit or credit card attached to your Electroverse account, you’ll need to check if non-sterling transaction fees apply. Your bank will charge this fee if you charge abroad - similar to when you use certain bank cards to pay for food, drinks, boat trips to see octopuses (etc.) on holiday outside the UK
If you’d like a few more tips and tricks for taking your EV on a road trip, feel free to check out the below blogs:
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