Overview
The four variables
Grid carbon intensity, charging tariffs, purchase incentives and charger density. Each varies severalfold across Europe.
Running an electric car, country by country
An electric car is a different proposition in Norway, Poland and Portugal — different tariffs, different incentives, different grid, different charger density. Almost all EV advice ignores that.
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Why country matters more than car
Two identical cars, one in Norway and one in Poland, differ in running cost, emissions and how easy a long drive is — by more than most model-to-model comparisons.
Roaming
Driving across a border
Roaming agreements, plug standards and payment methods do not stop at the frontier in the way you would hope.
Emissions
Where the emissions case is strongest
Grid carbon intensity is the variable that decides how large the lifecycle advantage is.
Practical
What to carry
A second charge card is the cheapest insurance in European EV travel.
Related reading
EV Ground Truth
Electric cars reviewed on real range, charging behaviour and life-cycle emissions.
Travel Health Evidence
Jet lag, travellers' diarrhoea, food safety and eating with an allergy abroad.
Carbon Evidence
Personal carbon footprints, life-cycle assessment, and which changes actually move the number.
The EV Route
Planning an electric road trip around real range, real charge curves and where the chargers actually are.