The Route: Netherlands → Germany → Denmark

Our trip took us through three countries, each with its own charging network landscape. The beauty of modern EV travel is that you can stick to fast chargers along major routes, making long-distance travel surprisingly convenient.

Charging Networks: Our Experience

Netherlands: Fastned Reliability

Starting our journey in the Netherlands, we relied on Fastned stations for our initial charging needs. Fastned has built an impressive network of highway charging stations that are consistently reliable. Their purple charging stations have become a familiar sight along Dutch motorways, and we never had issues finding available chargers or dealing with payment systems.

Germany & Denmark: Ionity Dominance

Once we crossed into Germany and continued through to Denmark, Ionity became our go-to charging network. With their strategic placement along major European highways, Ionity stations were perfectly positioned for our route. These charging hubs typically feature multiple 350kW chargers, meaning even during busy periods, we rarely had to wait.

The charging experience was seamless throughout both countries. Ionity’s app made payment straightforward, and the charging speeds were consistently impressive.

Game Changer: The Ionity Power Subscription

Here’s where our trip became much more economical. I had signed up for Ionity’s Power subscription before departure, and it proved to be one of the best decisions for our journey.

The numbers speak for themselves:

• Standard Ionity pricing: €0.71/kWh
• With Power subscription: €0.39/kWh

That’s a savings of €0.32 per kWh – nearly 45% off the regular price! For a long-distance trip involving multiple charging sessions, this subscription paid for itself quickly. If you’re planning any significant EV travel in Europe using Ionity stations, this subscription is absolutely worth considering.

The Tesla Supercharger Situation

One notable limitation we faced was with Tesla Superchargers. While Tesla has opened many of their charging stations to non-Tesla vehicles across Europe, and their pricing is quite competitive, our BYD Atto 3 unfortunately doesn’t charge at Tesla V3 or V4 chargers. This is a shame, as Tesla’s network coverage is excellent and their prices are attractive, but compatibility issues still exist with some vehicle models. It is what it is – hopefully this will improve with future software updates or hardware revisions.

This limitation actually made our reliance on Ionity and other networks even more important, and reinforced the value of that Power subscription.

Hidden Gem: Clever’s Supercharging Square

Just as we entered Denmark, we discovered something truly special – a Clever supercharging hub that went far beyond typical charging infrastructure. This wasn’t just a parking lot with chargers; it was a complete travel experience.

The facility featured:

• Multiple fast charging stations
• Their own coffeeshop on-site
• A welcoming, modern design
• Clean facilities and comfortable seating areas

It felt more like a destination than a necessary stop. While our car charged, we enjoyed excellent coffee and had a proper break from driving. This is exactly the kind of charging infrastructure that makes EV travel not just feasible, but genuinely enjoyable.

Practical Tips for EV Travel in Europe

Based on our experience, here are some key takeaways:

Plan for Subscriptions: If you’re traveling extensively with Ionity, their Power subscription offers substantial savings. Do the math for your specific trip, but for most multi-day journeys, it’s worthwhile.

Embrace Fast Charging Only: We used exclusively fast chargers and never felt constrained by charging times. Modern EVs and high-speed chargers make this approach very practical for highway travel.

Look for Experience-Focused Charging: Facilities like the Clever station in Denmark show the future of EV charging – integrated experiences that make charging stops pleasant rather than just functional.

Network Reliability: Both Fastned and Ionity proved extremely reliable throughout our journey. Having a backup plan is always wise, but we never needed it.

The Bigger Picture

This trip reinforced how mature European EV charging infrastructure has become. The combination of reliable networks, reasonable pricing (especially with subscriptions), and increasingly sophisticated charging facilities makes electric road trips not just possible, but genuinely enjoyable.

The transition from thinking about charging as a limitation to viewing it as an opportunity for better travel experiences – like that wonderful coffee stop at Clever – represents a fundamental shift in how we approach long-distance EV travel.

Final Thoughts

Denmark proved to be an excellent destination for EV travelers, with robust charging infrastructure and innovative facilities. The combination of strategic planning (hello, Ionity Power subscription) and embracing the journey rather than just the destination made this one of our most enjoyable road trips yet.

For anyone considering a similar journey: the infrastructure is there, the experience is smooth, and with a bit of planning, it’s also quite affordable. The age of electric road trips has truly arrived.

Have you taken any memorable EV road trips? Share your charging experiences and discoveries in the comments below!