Easier to drive electric while vacationing in Europe: ANWB

Drivers of electric cars are finding it more accessible to travel to popular European holiday destinations by car due to an increase in loading points, the ANWB reported. "The electric car is on the rise throughout Europe, and the Dutch are becoming increasingly 'handy' with it," a spokeswoman said.

In addition to the Dutch going on holiday abroad with their plug-in car for the first time this year, the ANWB distinguishes a group of electric drivers who have already overcome "the first hurdles" and are increasingly traveling further into Europe, such as to Croatia or Portugal.

However, the tourist association emphasizes that thorough preparation remains essential because charging is still not equally accessible in every country or region. For example, electric driving can still be "a considerable challenge in Portugal." In Croatia, the charging infrastructure is "moderate by Dutch standards," but according to the ANWB, well-prepared electric drivers can still have a great holiday there.

According to the ANWB, there has been a lot of investment in charging infrastructure in recent years, particularly in North-Western Europe, and the charging network is also growing steadily elsewhere. According to the association, there is no longer a "French charging desert," and there were more than 6,700 fast chargers along the road in Italy this summer, most of them in the north.

Earlier this month, the ANWB reported that interest in electric cars is declining in the Netherlands, partly due to the high purchase price and because electric drivers will probably no longer be exempt from motor vehicle tax as of next year. Because the amount of that tax is based on, among other things, the weight of a car and plug-in cars are relatively heavy due to their battery pack, that can be a significant expense.

Incidentally, cars are getting heavier anyway, the ANWB noted, even petrol cars. Roadside Assistance has received more reports of flat tires in recent years because heavy vehicles' tire pressure is decreasing quickly, according to the ANWB spokeswoman. "The weight that a tire can carry quickly decreases at too low a pressure."