Going on holiday by electric car: a practical guide for Belgian families

Last summer, we drove Brussels to Argelès-sur-Mer in the Enyaq with two kids in the back. 1,050 km. Three charging stops. The longest: 28 minutes at the Mâcon rest area on the A6 — just enough time for the children to eat a sandwich and for the dog to drink. We arrived with 45 minutes of "delay" compared to a diesel. Not exactly a reason to cancel the holiday.

Going on holiday by electric car from Belgium is doable, predictable and cheaper than diesel. But it takes preparation — not the five-minute fill-up kind. Here's what I've learned from three summers of family road trips in an EV.

What real-world range should you expect on the motorway with the family?

The manufacturer's WLTP figure is useless for a holiday trip. Four passengers, the boot packed to the roof, air conditioning at 22°C and motorway speeds of 120-130 km/h: that's the worst-case scenario for the battery.

The field rule: WLTP range × 0.65-0.70 in summer on the motorway. In winter, drop to 0.55-0.60 with the heater running.

The Scenic E-Tech and E-3008 stand out for holidays. The Scenic, with its low drag coefficient and 87 kWh, holds 400 real km on the motorway — enough to get from Brussels to Lyon without touching a charger. The ID. Buzz, despite its 86 kWh, pays for its van silhouette: 280-310 km on the motorway means an extra stop compared to SUVs.

How do you plan your charging stops before leaving?

Planning is what turns a stressful trip into a boring one — and boring is exactly what you want.

ABRP (A Better Routeplanner) is the go-to tool. Enter your model, your starting battery level, your destination and your preferences (speed, outside temperature). The algorithm calculates optimal stops using terrain data, weather and real consumption figures from thousands of drivers. The error margin is below 5%, according to Iternio, the app's developer.

Three rules I follow before every departure:

• Plan the evening before and save the route in ABRP. Check on Chargemap that the planned chargers are operational (real-time status).
• Target 20-25 minute stops every 2 to 2.5 hours. That's the natural rhythm with children — and it's exactly the 10%-80% window for a 150 kW+ fast charge.
• Have a plan B for each stop. If the Ionity charger is down, a Fastned or TotalEnergies station 10-15 km away is the margin that prevents panic.

How much does an EV holiday trip cost vs diesel?

The real numbers for a Brussels–South of France trip (1,000 km) in May 2026:

The "mix" scenario assumes a full home charge before departure (EUR 0.25/kWh off-peak in Belgium) and a charge at the accommodation for the return. The "100% fast" scenario uses Ionity/Fastned chargers en route at EUR 0.45-0.55/kWh.

Even in the worst case (all fast charging), the saving is EUR 150 on a round trip compared to diesel. Over a two-week road trip with intermediate stops, the gap widens to EUR 200-300 — enough to pay for a few extra restaurant meals.

Last summer, I kept a precise log. Brussels–Argelès, 1,050 km, three charging breaks. Total energy cost outbound: EUR 38. The return from the campsite (domestic socket, slow but free over 3 nights): EUR 12. My parasol neighbour in a Tiguan diesel spent EUR 260 on fuel for the round trip. We drove the same road, at the same pace — except he didn't stop 25 minutes in Mâcon. He stopped 8 minutes at the pump. The real time saving over 1,050 km: 17 minutes.

Which charging networks should you use on European motorways?

In 2026, the fast charging network on Belgian and European motorways has reached a maturity level that makes long trips predictable. Here are the operators to know.

The EU AFIR directive has mandated bank card payment on all new fast chargers since 2025. No more juggling ten apps — your Visa or Mastercard is enough in a pinch. To optimise costs, an Ionity subscription at EUR 59.99/year or Electra Boost at EUR 9.99/month remains the best investment for regular holiday drivers.

How should you prepare accommodation for charging?

Your accommodation choice changes the game. A hotel or rental with a charger means starting each morning at 100% — without hunting for a public charger the night before.

In the Ardennes: Ardennes-Etape offers a "charging station" filter in its search engine. In 2026, several hundred Ardennes cottages are equipped, typically with a 7-11 kW charger — plenty for a full overnight charge.

On the Belgian coast: the public network from Knokke to De Panne is dense. Town centre car parks in Ostend, Blankenberge and De Haan have 11-22 kW AC chargers. Some hotels offer free charging — ask when booking.

In France or Italy: filter on Booking.com or Airbnb with the "EV charger" criterion. Failing that, a standard 220V domestic socket at a host's home recovers 8-10 km per hour of charging — an overnight charge of 10 hours gives you 80-100 km, enough for local excursions.

What are the mistakes to avoid on your first EV road trip?

Three errors keep coming up with beginners — I've made all of them.

Underestimating headwind. On the A1 between Lille and Paris, a 30 km/h north-westerly adds 3-4 kWh/100 km of consumption. Over 200 km, that's 30-40 km of lost range. ABRP factors in weather, but double-check the wind direction before leaving.

Arriving at the charger below 10%. Stressful and counterproductive. Charging is faster between 10 and 60% than between 5 and 60%. Aim for 15-20% arrival at the charger — not lower.

Forgetting battery pre-conditioning. Most recent EVs (Tesla, Hyundai/Kia, VW) automatically heat the battery when you program a fast-charging stop in the sat-nav. Use the built-in planner alongside ABRP to activate this feature — charging speed jumps 20-30% on a pre-heated battery.