Well-known Lithuanian travelers Vitoldas Milius and Aidas Bubinas were convinced of the same, who covered the entire 1,500 km route from Rovaniemi to Vilnius by driving a Peugeot e-Expert electric car.
Experienced drivers have made the most of the 100 kW electric motor and 75 kWh battery installed in the Peugeot e-Expert commercial model. However, for those who are already planning similar trips, V. Milius and A. Bubin advised to try the possibilities of an electric car on shorter trips first. Knowing the distance traveled in real conditions will not make it necessary to blindly rely on the readings of the devices, which will help to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Because in winter the distance traveled is significantly reduced. “If the devices show you are driving 300 km, plan only 200 km,” Vitold Milius said openly.
Example of how to install stops
When traveling through Finland, Lithuanians used the charging stations of one operator. Adding Peugeot e-Expert batteries to a distance of 200 km cost them an average of around € 10. It’s almost twice as cheap as it would cost to pour diesel into the tank of an economical car.
In Latvia and Estonia, charging is similar, and on average, a 100 km trip with a Peugeot e-Expert electric car cost Lithuanians € 7.8.
However, V. Milius warned travelers planning their expenses that charging prices at Finnish public stops vary greatly, similarly to Lithuania. In addition, different operators apply different charging methods: charging time is charged in one place, energy is charged elsewhere, and in some cases a one-off connection fee is paid.
This bothered travelers a bit. “Why, when you come to a petrol station in any country, you can fill the fuel tank without any problems. There are no obstacles to activate the column or pay. However, when traveling by electric car, there are always problems because “I had to go to a nearby supermarket and ask the seller to translate the instructions,” laughed V. Milius.
But there is a good side. In Finland, Milius was pleasantly surprised by the planning of the infrastructure required for electric cars. According to the traveler, in this country, most charging stations are located where there are already gas stations, eateries, supermarkets or attractions. Then you don’t get bored filling up your energy reserves.
“Every time you build an electric car, you can walk somewhere. No need to break your head about how to spend time. You can have a snack, have a coffee, go shopping or see something interesting. It is much more fun when, instead of stopping somewhere in the middle of the fields, the infrastructure is developed in this way, ”said the interviewee.
It is true that, unlike Norwegians, who like electric cars, Finns are much slower to switch to a new type of energy. Mr Milius said that this was particularly noticeable when driving further north. There is no shortage of electric cars in Helsinki, the capital of the country, and they are still a rarity in Lapland.
There are no worries when taming an electric car
Mr Milius confirmed that it was possible to travel north even with a commercial vehicle such as the Peugeot e-Expert, whose primary purpose was to deliver goods in cities and local routes. However, when planning stops, it is necessary to keep in mind that due to the extremely unfavorable low temperature for electric cars, the distance covered in one load is significantly reduced in the cold season.
“Do not blindly trust the dashboard readings. Only when the battery is charged can the computer show a distance of 300 km, but it can shrink up to 200 km very quickly and then stabilize again. It is full of subtleties that can be anxious for an inexperienced driver, but if you understand everything, you can drive calmly, ”the traveler pointed out.
The interior heating is extremely energy-intensive – it must be switched on at all times when traveling in the north. However, as V. Milius noted, on a longer trip it is less noticeable, because less energy is used to maintain the cabin temperature than for the initial warm-up.
“When driving in the city, this is especially relevant, because after a long stop at low ambient temperatures, the cabin cools down quickly and you have to warm up again every time you sit inside. The advantage of a commercial electric vehicle such as the Peugeot e-Expert is the cab separated from the load compartment. Its space is small, so the energy costs of maintaining the temperature are even lower, ”the traveler commented.
V. Milius added that heated seats are very useful in electric cars. The energy consumption for heating the seats is not high and a higher level of comfort is provided for the driver and passengers. When the seat heating function is activated, a lower interior temperature can be set.
“In order to be efficient, you have to try everything, because the design of an electric car is completely different from that of a regular car. There is no internal combustion engine that transfers excess heat to the cabin and gets inside even without additional equipment when driving forward. In the electric car, all the work is done by a heater, ”the interlocutor explained.
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