To start with, don't know if this is the right part of the Forum, but could not figure out a better place to put it in?
This might be a little ”late”, but finally took the time to translate this to English.
(Please have some understanding if the English is not perfect, but please also correct me
)
Last Easter (2016) I took a “quick” tour from Stockholm, Sweden to Antibes, France and back (about 5000 km/ 3000 miles roundtrip) to surprise my Grandmother that lives there.
This is the greater part of Europe North<->South.
Dad and his wife who already had planned going there took a flight there, but kept my secret from grandma!
Warning, this Post may contain way too many pictures of Superchargers
Stockholm-Antibes roundtrip – Emission Free
(Part One, see replies to see the rest)
My depiction and thoughts
At the moment my Tesla was about three weeks old, so I thought that this would be the perfect test to see how the Supercharger-network works, and also a test between me and the car.
I was quite curious of how I would manage to sit for long periods of time in the car and how well the Autopilot would work. (How much would I be able to use it?)
I started on the Wednesday before Easter north of Stockholm where I work (Märsta) with about 95% charge.
This is the suggested route:
I choose to go on the route via Trelleborg and taking the Night-Ferry to Travemünde in Germany. It would be a perfect time to sleep a little while still moving south.
I had a small hope of being able to charge on the ferry as well, even if they at the booking officially had said no.
So my trip for the day looked like this: (Had to put Trelleborg as my destination instead of Antibes since the Navi doesn’t allow for alternate routes.)
After a stop at my home in Solna, closer to Stockholm, to get my sunglasses, me and my shitty companion was on the way!
Then it was just to start working my way south, first stop in Tystberga / Sillekrog Supercharger:
I chose to stop for a couple of minutes more than Tesla suggested, since I know that my right foot can be quite heavy, but also since I had zero experience of longer road trips with Tesla/Electric cars, and wanted to have some margins.
So far so good, some traffic through Stockholm, but after Södertälje everything looked good.
Autopilot engaged almost all the time!
Next stop was Ödeshög Supercharger, with a longer charging-stop, so I had some dinner at the time.
I had heard very well of the next Supercharger, especially for dinner, but I was too hungry to wait.
But saved myself for dessert
I also missed the exit to Ödeshög. The Combo of talking on the phone and using Autopilot was not good, since the phone mutes the AP voice…)
This gave me a detour of about 25 km (16 miles) and about 20 minute, that also made me have to charge for a longer time.
Ödeshög
Then just keep on going, Spotify running and Toftaholm / Lagan Supercharger set as next charging stop while the sun is setting.
Lagans Supercharger:
Good Dessert (Hot Chocolate in the cup, I don’t drink coffee )
Huge cred to the employees at Toftaholm, very good personnel and I will definitely visit this place again, even if I don’t need to charge!
After a really nice discussion with the waitress about Tesla as a car (and a bad attempt of getting her to join me on my trip ) it was time to go.
According to the navi I would make it to Trelleborg with a few percent left, but since I didn’t know If I would be able to charge at the ferry I set my sight on Löddeköpinge supercharger.
Before setting the Supercharger as my goal it looked like this:
That’s a REALLY good function in the navi.
Somewhere at this point I am starting to realize that my extra time at the Superchargers, my missed exit and some of the traffic in the beginning have messed up my time-planning.
After some googling and help from a friend, I get the number directly to the ferry Terminal and give them a call.
They tell me that I normally have to be in place about 1 hour before departure, and checked in 30 minutes before departure.
I check the navi and do some math with the needed time to charge and realize that if everything goes smoothly, I will make it with about 20 minutes to spare.
They check with the crew on the ferry and tells me ”If you are here 15 minutes before departure, it’s ok. If you get more late than that, let us know, then we might have to leave without you...”
Well, said and done, I keep on rolling. Thinking about what I read earlier: “Best average speed between superchargers is 160 km/h (100 mph)”. But I keep a more moderate speed, to not lose my license.
I also check where my next Supercharger after the ferry is (the first one in Germany, Braak), and calculate how long I have to charge. And Yes, still adds a few minutes.
My last charging-stop in Sweden, Löddeköpinge Supercharger:
Under the whole trip this part is the only part where I had some anxiety about the range!
Looking back it feels like it was only to not knowing the car and charging routines.
When I leave the Supercharger in Löddeköpinge everything looks good. Should make it to the Ferry with about 20-25 minutes before departure.
When I pass the city of Malmö I see the message ”Rerouting due to traffic” and my margin shrinks!
Well, finally I get to the check in with about 20 minutes. And what do I see, there is a line of cars!
Woho, I’m not that late Is what I’m thinking!
After about 5 minutes in the cue I reach the check in, the lady looks VERY surprised when I’m telling her I’m going to Travemünde, everybody else is checking in for a ferry leaving in the morning, to another destination.
After some quick words over the Walkie Talkie she waves me through directly pass everybody.
I drive up on ramp to the ferry, and there are 3 guys literally standing and waiting, holding the ferry, only for me.
When passing them I ask them if there is a possibility to charge the car in one of the outlets for the cooling trucks. (I have an adapter )
They tell me that they can’t let me do that (but I can hear in their voices that normally they might have been persuaded, but since my late arrival I don’t feel like I’m in a position to talk them in to it. So I accept their no for an answer.
So close to charging, but still so far away
Seen from an environmental point of view it’s probably better not to charge here, since the electricity from the ship probably comes from some quite bad oil.
My Luxury Cabin for the night:
Good morning Travemünde:
I roll of the ferry, without any kind of border control.
Since the connection to the cell-network was lost during the night It takes quite a while without any connection, but I do a reboot of the screen and it gets connected again.
I drive the 60 km (37 miles) to my first supercharger in Germany, and of course with Rammstein from Spotify on loud volume
Supercharger Braak:
I get some breakfast while the car is charging for about 35 minutes according to the navi.
From here it’s ”German-Autobahn”. For you that does not knot, quite monotonously and basically just transporting yourself. Though very efficient transport!
The roads are good and the weather as well, and not as much traffic as I had waited for (probably because of Easter-time). So just “eating” the miles.
On these kinds of roads, the Autopilot works almost flawless, and people in Germany are a lot better drivers than in Sweden, so the driving is, even though high speeds, very relaxed.
Max speed for the Autopilot is 150 km/h (93 mph, don’t know if it’s more even MPH number in the US?), but for the “No Speed Limit” parts of the Autobahn, this is quite a good speed.
(Even though I definitely tested what the car can do, but more about that later!
In the opposite direction I meet a classic German ”Stau” (Traffic Jam for miles where cars are just standing still for hours)
Feeling lucky that it is not in my direction, and hoping for that I won’t get a stop like this (it can be quite common in Germany).(And I do not get a stop like this on the whole trip J )
Next stop is Supercharger Rhüden
Just eating miles and aiming for Malsfeld Supercharger:
And feeling like a real German Lunch!
The Roadside Diners are a lot better in Germany than in Sweden.
Keeps on rolling without anything spectacular happening, next stop is Gramschatzer Supercharger
First stop that I actually get company from more Teslas. The White/green had been on a show, full custom interior and some other fun stuff.
Also an Autobahn-chapel
Aiming for a last charge in Germany on Aichstetten Supercharger, but after a While I’m getting an error message about “Driver Assistance Features not working”. Calling the Tesla Support and gets the info that they can probably solve this with a “restart”.
Therefore I chose a stop at the Ellwangen Supercharger:
The problem disappears after the restart
Note: Back home I booked a time for this because the problem came back after this trip and they changed the front camera.
Finally at Aichstetten Supercharger:
Takes the opportunity to get some drinks and candy since I’m feeling a little bit hungry, but want to wait to eat until I’m in Switzerland. I’m thinking that the food there is better.
It starts to get dark and I’m realizing I’m in the Alps, because “up in the sky” you can see lights. (That is actually houses/villages on the mountainsides)
Passing the border to Switzerland, there is no real border control here either, just an empty house.
Not the best lights, but far from as bad as I have read.
(The EU-Version has less power in the lights because of different regulations here)
First Charging in Switzerland, Maienfeld Supercharger:
I’m thinking I can get a nice dinner here, since there is a hotel next to the Supercharger.
Well, though to my disappointment when they tell me that everything on the menu takes “at LEAST 30 minutes”, so I choose a Grilled Cheese and Ham Sandwich, thinking it will go fast to get it…that takes 20 minutes before landing at my table. But still tasted good!
My plan was to drive for about 30-60 minutes and try to find a Hotel with a charging overnight.
When I start rolling I search for some hotels and realize that the only larger community is the city of Chur (Pronounced “Kor”), within hours in the right direction. And that is only about 15 minutes away. Thinking about going back to Maienfeld and checking in at the hotel by the Supercharger.
Does some googling and finds out that price-wise it doesn’t matter and gets the thought that “20 minutes tonight is 20 minutes less tomorrow, better than nothing.”
Taking the exit to Chur and see a big sign with ”Hotel” on what looks like a lower class hotel, asks in the front desk for possibility to charge. The price for the Room was ok 150 cfh (Swizz currency) without breakfast and 170 cfh with breakfast.
Charging would be a problem though (even though that I explain that I only need a regular outlet).
Rolling out from that hotel, looking for some hotels, finds one that looks..well luxurious to say the least, and also brand new.
Calls them before I go there, asking for a room and if they any possibility to charge the car during the night.
“Yes, of course. Charging avaible in the garage and rooms avaible”. Expecting to hear a really high price. ”130 CHF including parking/charging and a large breakfast buffet”.
”Good, I’ll be there in a couple of minutes” is my answer.
City West Hotel, highly recommended.
Checking in and goes down to the garage.
Here I see that in Switzerland they have their own outlets. Not European standard (Switzerland is out of the European Union this could be one of the reasons)
The front desk lends me a travel-adaptor:
Only manages to charge with 6A (normally you get 10-16A out of these sockets, maximum 13A with Tesla though).
Well I do get a few miles during the night at least.
Take a walk round in the beautiful city to stretch my legs before bedtime.
The room was GREAT, and I was alone in the breakfast lounge in the morning. (Now it is “Good Friday” so that is probably why)
This is what I woke up to:
And during the night my car had shrinked
I knew that this part of the trip would be a lot nicer to drive.
When you see the mountains of the alps stretching far above the road, the only thing you can do is ENJOY!
I had a small hope of being able to driver over the mountain to San Bernadino, using the San Bernadinopass.
Unfortunately it was still closed for the season, so didn’t come far:
Look closely, you can see the road winding up the mountainside
I really need to go here sometime during summer, when the pass is open.
So, instead of over the mountain, I went through it. The massive tunnel end sup just in San Bernadino. Looks like a really cute small town.
From there the trip started going downwards. Getting a ”minus consumption”, in other words, only regenerating. Theoretically I could go forever like this
Could have skipped this stop, but just to be on the safe side I stoped at the Monte Ceneri Supercharger:
Company of a Norwegian with the same color as my car, but with the rims I really want. Do you think he would notice if I switched during the charging?
Here is where I really noticed that I had come out on the south side of the Alps, in just about one hour the temperature went from 5 C (about 40 F) to 18 C (about 65 F)! Starting to feel that I was getting closer to the goal!
The border crossing to Italy, in Chiasso/Como, at least some customs personnel, but no car was stopped/searched while I was in line.
First stop in Italy, took a longer break for lunch, of course a pizza!
I ate the pizza at Supercharger Dorno. A pretty boring / crowded roadside restaurant. Very crowded at this point (on the return-trip almost empty).
The roads in Italy were really nice and not much traffic, so worked myself down towards the coast. Also realizing that the camera can be used to look at some Italian stallions:
Down by the coast I aim for Varazze Supercharger that had a really nice scenic location. (But both me and the Tesla missed a turn even though there were signs )
Since this is the last Supercharger before the final destination Antibes (the next one is about 50 km / 30 miles past Antibes) I make the decision to charge a little bit longer.
Took a walk out on the pier to enjoy the scenery:
Made a call to my father and we are realizing that the time of my arrival will be just about when they are going to go for dinner. So dad will ”call for a cab” to Grandma’s apartment.
So when they go down to catch the cab, I am standing there. Grandma was REALLY surprised J
So even though that the journey was far from over (going back home ), the goal was achieved!
Happy Grandmother!
Edit: See next post for the rest of the story, to many images!
This might be a little ”late”, but finally took the time to translate this to English.
(Please have some understanding if the English is not perfect, but please also correct me
)Last Easter (2016) I took a “quick” tour from Stockholm, Sweden to Antibes, France and back (about 5000 km/ 3000 miles roundtrip) to surprise my Grandmother that lives there.
This is the greater part of Europe North<->South.
Dad and his wife who already had planned going there took a flight there, but kept my secret from grandma!
Warning, this Post may contain way too many pictures of Superchargers
Stockholm-Antibes roundtrip – Emission Free
(Part One, see replies to see the rest)
My depiction and thoughts
At the moment my Tesla was about three weeks old, so I thought that this would be the perfect test to see how the Supercharger-network works, and also a test between me and the car.
I was quite curious of how I would manage to sit for long periods of time in the car and how well the Autopilot would work. (How much would I be able to use it?)
I started on the Wednesday before Easter north of Stockholm where I work (Märsta) with about 95% charge.
This is the suggested route:
I choose to go on the route via Trelleborg and taking the Night-Ferry to Travemünde in Germany. It would be a perfect time to sleep a little while still moving south.
I had a small hope of being able to charge on the ferry as well, even if they at the booking officially had said no.
So my trip for the day looked like this: (Had to put Trelleborg as my destination instead of Antibes since the Navi doesn’t allow for alternate routes.)
After a stop at my home in Solna, closer to Stockholm, to get my sunglasses, me and my shitty companion was on the way!
Then it was just to start working my way south, first stop in Tystberga / Sillekrog Supercharger:
I chose to stop for a couple of minutes more than Tesla suggested, since I know that my right foot can be quite heavy, but also since I had zero experience of longer road trips with Tesla/Electric cars, and wanted to have some margins.
So far so good, some traffic through Stockholm, but after Södertälje everything looked good.
Autopilot engaged almost all the time!
Next stop was Ödeshög Supercharger, with a longer charging-stop, so I had some dinner at the time.
I had heard very well of the next Supercharger, especially for dinner, but I was too hungry to wait.
But saved myself for dessert
I also missed the exit to Ödeshög. The Combo of talking on the phone and using Autopilot was not good, since the phone mutes the AP voice…)
This gave me a detour of about 25 km (16 miles) and about 20 minute, that also made me have to charge for a longer time.
Ödeshög
Then just keep on going, Spotify running and Toftaholm / Lagan Supercharger set as next charging stop while the sun is setting.
Lagans Supercharger:
Good Dessert (Hot Chocolate in the cup, I don’t drink coffee
)
Huge cred to the employees at Toftaholm, very good personnel and I will definitely visit this place again, even if I don’t need to charge!
After a really nice discussion with the waitress about Tesla as a car (and a bad attempt of getting her to join me on my trip
) it was time to go.According to the navi I would make it to Trelleborg with a few percent left, but since I didn’t know If I would be able to charge at the ferry I set my sight on Löddeköpinge supercharger.
Before setting the Supercharger as my goal it looked like this:
That’s a REALLY good function in the navi.
Somewhere at this point I am starting to realize that my extra time at the Superchargers, my missed exit and some of the traffic in the beginning have messed up my time-planning.
After some googling and help from a friend, I get the number directly to the ferry Terminal and give them a call.
They tell me that I normally have to be in place about 1 hour before departure, and checked in 30 minutes before departure.
I check the navi and do some math with the needed time to charge and realize that if everything goes smoothly, I will make it with about 20 minutes to spare.
They check with the crew on the ferry and tells me ”If you are here 15 minutes before departure, it’s ok. If you get more late than that, let us know, then we might have to leave without you...”
Well, said and done, I keep on rolling. Thinking about what I read earlier: “Best average speed between superchargers is 160 km/h (100 mph)”. But I keep a more moderate speed, to not lose my license.
I also check where my next Supercharger after the ferry is (the first one in Germany, Braak), and calculate how long I have to charge. And Yes, still adds a few minutes.
My last charging-stop in Sweden, Löddeköpinge Supercharger:
Under the whole trip this part is the only part where I had some anxiety about the range!
Looking back it feels like it was only to not knowing the car and charging routines.
When I leave the Supercharger in Löddeköpinge everything looks good. Should make it to the Ferry with about 20-25 minutes before departure.
When I pass the city of Malmö I see the message ”Rerouting due to traffic” and my margin shrinks!
Well, finally I get to the check in with about 20 minutes. And what do I see, there is a line of cars!
Woho, I’m not that late Is what I’m thinking!
After about 5 minutes in the cue I reach the check in, the lady looks VERY surprised when I’m telling her I’m going to Travemünde, everybody else is checking in for a ferry leaving in the morning, to another destination.
After some quick words over the Walkie Talkie she waves me through directly pass everybody.
I drive up on ramp to the ferry, and there are 3 guys literally standing and waiting, holding the ferry, only for me.
When passing them I ask them if there is a possibility to charge the car in one of the outlets for the cooling trucks. (I have an adapter
)They tell me that they can’t let me do that (but I can hear in their voices that normally they might have been persuaded, but since my late arrival I don’t feel like I’m in a position to talk them in to it. So I accept their no for an answer.
So close to charging, but still so far away
Seen from an environmental point of view it’s probably better not to charge here, since the electricity from the ship probably comes from some quite bad oil.
My Luxury Cabin for the night:
Good morning Travemünde:
I roll of the ferry, without any kind of border control.
Since the connection to the cell-network was lost during the night It takes quite a while without any connection, but I do a reboot of the screen and it gets connected again.
I drive the 60 km (37 miles) to my first supercharger in Germany, and of course with Rammstein from Spotify on loud volume
Supercharger Braak:
I get some breakfast while the car is charging for about 35 minutes according to the navi.
From here it’s ”German-Autobahn”. For you that does not knot, quite monotonously and basically just transporting yourself. Though very efficient transport!
The roads are good and the weather as well, and not as much traffic as I had waited for (probably because of Easter-time). So just “eating” the miles.
On these kinds of roads, the Autopilot works almost flawless, and people in Germany are a lot better drivers than in Sweden, so the driving is, even though high speeds, very relaxed.
Max speed for the Autopilot is 150 km/h (93 mph, don’t know if it’s more even MPH number in the US?), but for the “No Speed Limit” parts of the Autobahn, this is quite a good speed.
(Even though I definitely tested what the car can do, but more about that later!
In the opposite direction I meet a classic German ”Stau” (Traffic Jam for miles where cars are just standing still for hours)
Feeling lucky that it is not in my direction, and hoping for that I won’t get a stop like this (it can be quite common in Germany).(And I do not get a stop like this on the whole trip J )
Next stop is Supercharger Rhüden
Just eating miles and aiming for Malsfeld Supercharger:
And feeling like a real German Lunch!
The Roadside Diners are a lot better in Germany than in Sweden.
Keeps on rolling without anything spectacular happening, next stop is Gramschatzer Supercharger
First stop that I actually get company from more Teslas. The White/green had been on a show, full custom interior and some other fun stuff.
Also an Autobahn-chapel
Aiming for a last charge in Germany on Aichstetten Supercharger, but after a While I’m getting an error message about “Driver Assistance Features not working”. Calling the Tesla Support and gets the info that they can probably solve this with a “restart”.
Therefore I chose a stop at the Ellwangen Supercharger:
The problem disappears after the restart
Note: Back home I booked a time for this because the problem came back after this trip and they changed the front camera.
Finally at Aichstetten Supercharger:
Takes the opportunity to get some drinks and candy since I’m feeling a little bit hungry, but want to wait to eat until I’m in Switzerland. I’m thinking that the food there is better.
It starts to get dark and I’m realizing I’m in the Alps, because “up in the sky” you can see lights. (That is actually houses/villages on the mountainsides)
Passing the border to Switzerland, there is no real border control here either, just an empty house.
Not the best lights, but far from as bad as I have read.
(The EU-Version has less power in the lights because of different regulations here)
First Charging in Switzerland, Maienfeld Supercharger:
I’m thinking I can get a nice dinner here, since there is a hotel next to the Supercharger.
Well, though to my disappointment when they tell me that everything on the menu takes “at LEAST 30 minutes”, so I choose a Grilled Cheese and Ham Sandwich, thinking it will go fast to get it…that takes 20 minutes before landing at my table. But still tasted good!
My plan was to drive for about 30-60 minutes and try to find a Hotel with a charging overnight.
When I start rolling I search for some hotels and realize that the only larger community is the city of Chur (Pronounced “Kor”), within hours in the right direction. And that is only about 15 minutes away. Thinking about going back to Maienfeld and checking in at the hotel by the Supercharger.
Does some googling and finds out that price-wise it doesn’t matter and gets the thought that “20 minutes tonight is 20 minutes less tomorrow, better than nothing.”
Taking the exit to Chur and see a big sign with ”Hotel” on what looks like a lower class hotel, asks in the front desk for possibility to charge. The price for the Room was ok 150 cfh (Swizz currency) without breakfast and 170 cfh with breakfast.
Charging would be a problem though (even though that I explain that I only need a regular outlet).
Rolling out from that hotel, looking for some hotels, finds one that looks..well luxurious to say the least, and also brand new.
Calls them before I go there, asking for a room and if they any possibility to charge the car during the night.
“Yes, of course. Charging avaible in the garage and rooms avaible”. Expecting to hear a really high price. ”130 CHF including parking/charging and a large breakfast buffet”.
”Good, I’ll be there in a couple of minutes” is my answer.
City West Hotel, highly recommended.
Checking in and goes down to the garage.
Here I see that in Switzerland they have their own outlets. Not European standard (Switzerland is out of the European Union this could be one of the reasons)
The front desk lends me a travel-adaptor:
Only manages to charge with 6A (normally you get 10-16A out of these sockets, maximum 13A with Tesla though).
Well I do get a few miles during the night at least.
Take a walk round in the beautiful city to stretch my legs before bedtime.
The room was GREAT, and I was alone in the breakfast lounge in the morning. (Now it is “Good Friday” so that is probably why)
This is what I woke up to:
And during the night my car had shrinked
I knew that this part of the trip would be a lot nicer to drive.
When you see the mountains of the alps stretching far above the road, the only thing you can do is ENJOY!
I had a small hope of being able to driver over the mountain to San Bernadino, using the San Bernadinopass.
Unfortunately it was still closed for the season, so didn’t come far:
Look closely, you can see the road winding up the mountainside
I really need to go here sometime during summer, when the pass is open.
So, instead of over the mountain, I went through it. The massive tunnel end sup just in San Bernadino. Looks like a really cute small town.
From there the trip started going downwards. Getting a ”minus consumption”, in other words, only regenerating. Theoretically I could go forever like this
Could have skipped this stop, but just to be on the safe side I stoped at the Monte Ceneri Supercharger:
Company of a Norwegian with the same color as my car, but with the rims I really want. Do you think he would notice if I switched during the charging?
Here is where I really noticed that I had come out on the south side of the Alps, in just about one hour the temperature went from 5 C (about 40 F) to 18 C (about 65 F)! Starting to feel that I was getting closer to the goal!
The border crossing to Italy, in Chiasso/Como, at least some customs personnel, but no car was stopped/searched while I was in line.
First stop in Italy, took a longer break for lunch, of course a pizza!
I ate the pizza at Supercharger Dorno. A pretty boring / crowded roadside restaurant. Very crowded at this point (on the return-trip almost empty).
The roads in Italy were really nice and not much traffic, so worked myself down towards the coast. Also realizing that the camera can be used to look at some Italian stallions:
Down by the coast I aim for Varazze Supercharger that had a really nice scenic location. (But both me and the Tesla missed a turn even though there were signs
)
Since this is the last Supercharger before the final destination Antibes (the next one is about 50 km / 30 miles past Antibes) I make the decision to charge a little bit longer.
Took a walk out on the pier to enjoy the scenery:
Made a call to my father and we are realizing that the time of my arrival will be just about when they are going to go for dinner. So dad will ”call for a cab” to Grandma’s apartment.
So when they go down to catch the cab, I am standing there. Grandma was REALLY surprised J
So even though that the journey was far from over (going back home
), the goal was achieved!
Happy Grandmother!
Edit: See next post for the rest of the story, to many images!
Last edited:
