People considering buying an electric car often worry whether the vehicle's range is sufficient for longer journeys or if they’ll need to rent a car for summer vacations. Kaur Pai, Elektrum’s Sales and Project Manager and an experienced EV driver, confirms that an electric car is a reliable and comfortable travel companion – whether your destination is Saaremaa or Sardinia.
“People often ask if driving to Tartu or Pärnu isn’t too much hassle because you need to charge on the way. But such questions usually come from those who haven’t driven an electric car themselves,” says Kaur Pai, who mostly takes his road trips in an EV.
An electric car teaches you to travel more mindfully
According to him, owning an EV has brought a calmer and more mindful rhythm to his travels. “I can’t imagine driving from Tallinn to Warsaw in a day – such an inhuman effort is exhausting for both the driver and passengers, and it drains your energy for the following days as well. An electric car doesn’t force you to rush and doesn’t wear you out with noise. I don’t feel the need to get anywhere fast, and I’m not tired at the end of the day.”
When on a longer journey, it's actually pleasant to stop every 250–300 kilometers to stretch your legs, have coffee, or enjoy the scenery. At the same time, you can charge your vehicle. “For instance, we have a dog in the family who also needs time to move around, eat, and relieve himself,” he adds, emphasizing the value of driving breaks.
Park where there’s a charger
According to Pai, charging an electric car is neither bothersome nor time-consuming – if you know how to plan. Modern apps make this easy – you can plan your route in advance using tools like PlugShare, which consider your car's range. More experienced EV drivers already know where the best charging spots are for their needs.
“When I travel, I try to keep my battery level between 20% and 80%, because following this rule helps prolong battery life and leaves room to maneuver in unexpected situations. To avoid stress, I never leave charging to the last minute,” he explains.
He adds that in many European cities, the most desirable parking spots are reserved for electric cars and equipped with chargers – and the charging service is often cheaper there. “You can park right in the city center, next to a café or museum, go for a walk, have lunch, visit a museum, and your car charges while you enjoy yourself. Charging breaks are part of the travel experience, not a burden. Just download the Elektrum Drive app and you can charge across the Baltics without worry,” he assures.
Pai also notes that in the Baltics, there’s still room for improvement when it comes to accommodation providers offering charging options.
“Slow overnight charging is the most cost-effective, so EV drivers look for accommodations that offer charging. Unfortunately, many hotels and guesthouses are not yet taking advantage of this competitive edge. In the future, this won’t be a nice-to-have but a must-have, or else they risk losing a significant portion of potential customers. Elektrum offers accommodation providers a solution – if the hotel can provide the necessary electricity connection, they may receive a charger and installation free of charge under suitable conditions,” he says.
Pai emphasizes that Elektrum is working hard to rapidly expand its charging network throughout the Baltics – over the next three years, more than a thousand new Elektrum Drive chargers will be added annually across the region, many of them ultra-fast chargers along major highways.
The farther you go, the less you worry
According to Kaur Pai, only those who have tried traveling with an EV can truly appreciate how comfortable it is. In addition to being environmentally friendly and pleasant to drive, electric vehicles also help keep travel costs under control – depending on the service provider and destination country, charging can be up to 50% cheaper than fueling an internal combustion engine car, especially when taking advantage of summer campaigns and off-peak tariffs.
While the fast-charging network is currently rapidly expanding in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, many European countries already have well-developed infrastructure. Pai lists several destinations where traveling with an electric car is worry-free:
Netherlands – Europe’s undisputed leader in EV infrastructure development. The country has over 180,000 charging points, mainly AC chargers, and chargers can be found in almost every parking area. Coverage is dense in both urban and rural areas, and many stations run on renewable energy.
Norway – The most electrified car country in the world, with the highest EV share globally. Fast chargers are located every 50–100 km, including in remote fjord villages. Charging is an integral part of daily mobility, and the country actively supports EV usage.
Germany – A rapidly growing EV charging network with more than 150,000 public charging points. Fast charging is available on almost all highways, with major networks like Ionity and EnBW in operation. Prices and services are becoming more standardized, and roaming support allows seamless charging across providers.
France – A very versatile destination for electric car travel, with charging infrastructure extending from major cities to small towns and tourist areas. Especially strong coverage in northwestern and southern France, offering both AC and DC chargers.
Sweden – A robust and rapidly growing charging network that meets Nordic standards. Operators like Recharge, E.ON, and Vattenfall are widely active, and fast chargers are available in cities and along major roads. Sweden is also well connected to Estonia via Norway, southern Sweden, and Stockholm ferries.
Finland – A well-covered country, especially in cities like Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku. Charging is also available in ports and parking lots, for example, near Tallink’s Länsiterminaali in Helsinki. Functional networks like Virta and Recharge ensure smooth travel.