&amp;Charge and MAINGAU Autostrom elevate their partnership and introduce advanced new features

Marcus and Alex undertook an e-car road trip of over 6,000 kilometers through Europe, mastering numerous &Charge challenges and proving the reliability of the charging infrastructure, especially in remote areas such as Nordkapp in Norway.

October 1, 2024

&Charge, a leading e-mobility innovator with a platform that is enhancing the Electric Vehicle (EV) charging experience, announces a groundbreaking partnership with E.ON Drive Infrastructure (EDRI), a market leader in the operation of public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles across Europe.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in both companies’ commitment to accelerating the accessibility and reliability of EV charging stations across the continent, aligning with the ambitious Deutschlandnetz initiative in Germany.

As Europe shifts towards sustainable transport, the demand for effective and accessible EV charging solutions is escalating. &Charge and EDRI are uniting their expertise to address the increasing needs of electric vehicle users and charge point operators (CPOs).

Empowering CPOs with advanced operations management

&Charge’s platform revolutionizes the EV charging experience by leveraging an advanced CPMS and the insights of a 60,000-strong E-Mobilist community who actively monitor the charging network. This approach not only streamlines operations and reduces costs but also elevates the overall user experience through user-generated feedback and AI analytics – allowing for enhanced reputation management for CPOs.

The partnership aims to enhance EDRI’s service offerings with comprehensive support from &Charge’s platform, incorporating regular site visits and check-in functionalities. These efforts are geared towards ensuring technical reliability, increasing station up-times and meeting customer expectations for a smooth charging experience.

A united vision for Deutschlandnetz compliance

A key aspect of this partnership is supporting EDRI’s alignment with the Deutschlandnetz initiative’s requirements, promoting a standardized and inclusive EV charging network across Germany. &Charge’s innovative platform and community-driven feedback are instrumental in meeting the initiative’s rigorous standards, paving the way for a unified and efficient charging infrastructure.

About E.ON Drive Infrastructure (EDRI)

E.ON Drive Infrastructure, a subsidiary of the E.ON group, is a pan-European charge point operator (CPO) for public charging infrastructure EDRI operates over 6,000 public charging points and is committed to expanding its network by 1,000 high power chargers annually to support the growing demand of electric vehicles.

For more information about EDRI, visit edri.com

About &Charge

&Charge offers an innovative platform that enhances the EV charging management experience by engaging a vibrant community of E-Mobilists who actively monitor the charging network and give detailed station assessments. By addressing the operational challenges faced by CPOs, &Charge facilitates a user-centric environment that ensures reliable, accessible, and efficient EV charging services.

For more information on &Charge and its diverse range of e-mobility partners, please visit and-charge.com/emobility-partner.

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Two electric cars in the foreground of a lake on the way to Nordkapp

Marcus and Alex on a big tour through Europe!

&Charge has partnered with evyve to enhance the EV charging experience across the UK by integrating &Charge’s rewards platform with EVyve’s charging network. This collaboration aims to provide EV drivers with incentives for charging while improving customer engagement.

August 12, 2024

We are delighted to tell you about an exciting adventure by our users Marcus and Alex. For the second time since 2023, the two of them have undertaken an impressive 6,000-kilometer road trip in their electric cars, mastering countless &Charge challenges along the way. Last year, we reported on their first tour of Northern Europe. This year, they chose a different route. It was worth it in many ways.

Here are some of the highlights of their trip, which took them from Germany to the world-famous Nordkapp in Norway. Below you can find out how you too can experience such adventures with &Charge.

Ein Bild, das draußen, Natur, Berg, Landschaft enthält.Automatisch generierte Beschreibung

160 Standard Challenges solved:
Together, Marcus and Alex have solved a total of 160 Standard Challenges. Marcus has mastered 89 challenges and Alex 71.
Pro tip: IONITY Standard Challenges are offered every 14 days

‍IONITY Challenges:
The two have set a new record in Norway for the most IONITY Challenges solved in one month, simply incredible!
Pro tip: IONITY Challenges are offered throughout Europe, including in your country.

Alex reports that the challenges fitted seamlessly into her itinerary. Their route crossed many of the challenges anyway, so it didn’t take any extra effort to solve them. The breaks at the IONITY stations were welcome and gave them the opportunity to recover. They made efficient use of the charging times, and the &Charge challenges were an enjoyable way for them to pass the time.

The trip itself was relaxed and free of time pressure, allowing them to enjoy each stage to the full. The journey was the real goal. Alex found it particularly rewarding how the challenges improved his perception of the charging points. By consciously recording the status of the charging points, it became clear how reliable the charging infrastructure is, even in the remote areas of Norway.

Ein Bild, das draußen, Himmel, Wasser, Klippe enthält.Automatisch generierte Beschreibung

The trip to Nordkapp was not only proof of the performance of electric cars over long distances, but also a cultural enrichment. We had some great conversations at the charging stations. Marcus and Alex showed how exciting and uncomplicated road trips can be with the right knowledge and the &Charge challenges. The quality and reliability of the charging stations were remarkable, which strengthens confidence in electromobility.

We are proud to have such dedicated and adventurous members in our &Charge community and would like to thank Markus and Alex for sharing their experiences with us. Perhaps their story will inspire you to plan your own road trip.

‍Would you also like to experience adventures with &Charge?The more challenges you complete, the more likely it is that we will offer you curated tours in your region. Our range of challenges and tours is constantly being expanded, so check regularly for open challenges in your area and during your trip.

‍Tip: If you haven’t yet completed the “Driver Survey” challenge, keep an eye out for it. This will register you for tours in your region.

&Charge partners with evyve to elevate the EV charging experience across the UK

The article discusses the benefits and challenges of holidaying with an electric car in 2024, focusing on improved charging infrastructure and route planning tools. It also highlights tips for maximizing range and finding EV-friendly accommodations.

July 30, 2024

&Charge is delighted to announce a new partnership with evyve, one of the UK’s rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) charging networks. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in &Charge’s mission to enhance the EV charging experience and infrastructure across the UK and Europe.

evyve, recently voted the en-route ‘Up and Coming Network’ 2024 by Zapmap, boasts an expanding network of over 520 charging points nationwide. Through this partnership, EV drivers can now leverage the &Charge platform to provide real-time feedback on their charging experiences at evyve stations.

Enhanced charging experience

EV drivers using the &Charge app can complete ‘Challenges’ at evyve charging stations. These challenges include reviewing and rating the functionality, cleanliness and overall experience of the charging stations. This valuable feedback is relayed directly to the evyve operations team, enabling them to quickly identify and resolve issues, ensuring a seamless charging experience for all users.

Earn rewards for feedback

As an added incentive, drivers who complete &Charge ‘Challenges’ will earn &Charge km credits, redeemable within the &Charge app for free charging sessions at popular networks such as Octopus Electroverse, Elli, Hyundai, KIA, and Plugsurfing, for Amazon vouchers or even for charity donations.

Quick and convenient QR code feedback

Another way to provide feedback is via the &Charge Check-In feature, which allows drivers to give short feedback directly at the charging station via a QR code. This process requires no registration and can be completed in just three clicks, making it incredibly user-friendly. Feedback is instantly shared with the evyve service team, helping to maintain high standards of service and infrastructure.

A commitment to quality

This partnership underscores &Charge’s commitment to fostering a robust feedback and quality assurance system. 

“We are now delighted to be working with evyve, one of the largest operators of public DC charging in the UK. This is an important milestone for &Charge in the rapidly developing UK market.” said Simon Vogt, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of &Charge.

‍“What both companies have in common is that we are owner-managed and fully committed to the successful ramp-up of electric mobility. With our Pro-Active Monitoring Service, we provide evyve with the added value in terms of efficiency, reliability and customer satisfaction that is essential for success. We are looking forward to a fruitful cooperation.” 

James Moat, CEO of evyve, added: “evyve are thrilled to be one of the first CPOs in the UK to utilise the &Charge platform. This partnership promotes an important line of communication with the end user, with customer engagement and feedback being key to the management of our network.  The feedback we receive from &Charge users will contribute to evyve achieving 99% uptime and delivering a high-quality service to our customers.”

About &Charge

&Charge is a leading platform dedicated to improving the electric vehicle charging experience through real-time feedback via the &Charge Marketplace. By connecting EV drivers with charging station operators, &Charge ensures a high-quality and reliable charging network.

For more information, visit and-charge.com/emobility-partner

About evyve

Creating solutions that have a greater impact on the planet, evyve operates charging stations at retail and leisure outlets, business parks and restaurants. Committed to supporting the roll-out of EV infrastructure, evyve strives to create a safe, secure and convenient charging network for drivers.

On holiday with electric car in 2024: This is what holidaymakers do during a charging stop and this is what they are looking for

&Charge outlines key strategies for Charge Point Operators (CPOs) to boost their business in 2024, focusing on customer engagement, data-driven decision-making, and integrating value-added services. These strategies aim to enhance customer satisfaction and operational efficiency in the EV charging sector.

July 10, 2024

With the increase in all-electric cars (BEVs) in the Netherlands & Belgium, holiday planning is becoming increasingly important for EV drivers. The recent  survey of Elektrische Autovakanties conducted among 965 Dutch and Belgian electric car drivers, offers valuable insights into how EV drivers plan and experience their holidays. In this article, we focus on three key aspects: charging on the road, activities during charging stops and apps used during the holiday.

Ein Bild, das draußen, Gebäude, Himmel, Fahrzeug enthält.Automatisch generierte Beschreibung

Charging on the Road

One of the biggest concerns for EV drivers is charging on the road. Fortunately, the survey shows that charging infrastructure in Europe has improved significantly, with major countries such as France and Germany standing out positively.
France gets a score of 4.17 on a scale of 1 to 5 for its charging infrastructure, which is a big improvement on last year. These improvements help reduce ‘range anxiety’, which meant that only 1.54% of EV drivers were stopped by a flat battery.

Tesla Superchargers remain a popular choice among EV drivers. By 2024, 43.6% of EV drivers will have used a Tesla Supercharger. The availability of more fast chargers along popular routes in Europe and lower Tesla charging costs are key factors contributing to this increase.

Despite the new European AFIR legislation, which should reduce the number of charging passes needed, holidaymakers still take an average of 3.6 charging passes with them to ensure themselves the ability to charge while on the road.

Most popular activities during Charging Stops

Charging stops provide EV drivers with the perfect opportunity for a break between travelling long distances on the motorway. The survey shows that ‘letting kids play (let off steam)’ increased tremendously as an activity during charging stops. This highlights the need for parents to combine charging stops with a place where there is a playground or grass area for the kids.

There has also been an increase in the number of holidaymakers shopping and popping in for groceries during charging stops. The development of charging stations at shops abroad means that many holidaymakers combine a charging stop with buying a fresh sandwich at the supermarket. Other popular activities include visiting the toilet, eating a meal and drinking coffee.

‍With the free &Charge app, you can make your charging stops during the summer holidays extra useful, because by completing tasks (e.g. give feedback on the charging experience in the &Charge Challenges) while charging, you can earn free credits (km) and redeem them for free charging. Thus make sure your holiday is a lot cheaper.

Apps used during the holidays

The app &Charge is one of the apps holidaymakers use during the holidays. Besides collecting free credits (km), many travelers plan their route with a route planner app or search for charging stations along the route with Google Maps.

There are also an increasing number of EV drivers who follow the navigation in the electric car by using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to link the route planner app with the car. That way, you can easily track your route and charging stops via your EV’s infotainment screen.

The availability of the various apps and route planners helps EV drivers plan their journeys efficiently and avoid unexpected situations, contributing to a worry-free and enjoyable holiday experience. Especially when people use the &Charge app during a charging stop to collect free charge credit.

In addition, after the survey results were analysed, a drawing was held among the participants: a lucky winner was randomly selected to receive 2,500 Km from &Charge. 

Conclusion ‍

The research report of Elektrische Autovakanties shows that EV drivers will be better prepared and more confident to go on holiday in 2024. Improved charging infrastructure, increasingly better facilities available during a charging stop and the use of convenient apps and route planners all contribute to a positive experience. With these insights, EV drivers can look forward to carefree holidays and enjoy their electric driving experiences across Europe. 

Ein Bild, das draußen, Himmel, Fahrzeug, Wolke enthält.Automatisch generierte Beschreibung

Key Strategies for CPOs to Enhance their Business with &Charge in 2024

&Charge introduced a SupportBot in its app to assist EV drivers with charging issues like authentication and finding available stations. The bot offers real-time help, reducing the need for customer support.

December 22, 2023

Entering 2024, Charge Point Operators (CPOs) face the essential task of evolving their strategies in the fast-paced e-mobility sector. To increase charging success rates, it’s vital to focus on reducing operational costs while enhancing service quality.

In this blog, we will outline 3 practical ways for CPOs to enhance their charging station services with &Charge, meeting the escalating needs of electric vehicle users with efficiency and effectiveness. Our focus is on boosting operational efficiency, enhancing customer experience, and elevating service reliability—critical elements for thriving in the dynamic world of e-mobility.

Lower Operational Cost

By engaging the &Charge Crowd of over 70,000 E-Mobilists in Europe for station assessments and inspections, operational costs are significantly reduced. This unique approach minimizes the reliance on external technicians and optimizes the allocation of internal technician time, resulting in operational expenditure (OPEX) savings of up to several hundred euros per inspection.

Implementing the &Charge Support Bot optimizes call center operations, leading to significant cost savings by reducing call volumes.
By reducing the need for expensive technicians and streamlining call center operations, we guarantee a far more efficient charging business.

Increase Reliability

The regular involvement of the &Charge Crowd in station inspections and validations, augmented by the innovative Check-In feature, significantly boosts the reliability of your services. This community-driven approach is supported by &Charge’s technology, which includes sentiment detection to analyze user comments. This system prefilters feedback, reducing noise in follow-up actions.

Our incident management tool uses artificial intelligence (AI), which improves efficiency and ensures an accurate maintenance process, keeping charging networks at peak performance.

Users can easily rate their charging experience either through the &Charge app’s Check-In function or by scanning a QR Code available digitally or physically at the charging station. Such integration not only reinforces station dependability but also consistently upholds high service standards, ensuring a seamless and satisfactory experience that customers can rely on. We are now seeing an increasing number of our partners are making the QR code available to users.

Enhanced Customer Experience

At &Charge, 2024 is all about enhancing the EV charging experience with real-time user feedback at the point of sale. Our approach includes simple, on-site feedback methods like Thumbs up/Thumbs down and a free comment field (“&Charge Check-In feature”), complemented by feedback sourced from various platforms in the markets. Every piece of feedback is reviewed and classified by our AI, providing clear action recommendations and incidents directly to CPOs for swift improvements in customer experience.

Additionally, our ‘customer insights’ module offers robust market research, delving into user behavior and requirements. This data-driven strategy ensures our network not only meets but anticipates the evolving needs of EV drivers.

&Charge – The Ultimate E-Mobility Partner

As we move forward into 2024, it’s an exciting time for the e-mobility ecosystem. The steps we take now will help to shape the future of sustainable transport. &Charge, with our innovative approaches and community-driven insights, stands as a leading e-mobility partner for both EV drivers and CPOs, poised to make a significant impact on the sector.

Let’s embrace these opportunities and continue to grow together. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and happy charging from all of us at &Charge!

Hassle-free charging made easy: &Charge introduces SupportBot to enhance the EV driver experience

PRESS RELEASE Introducing the &Charge value platform in the UK – offering CPOs the chance to enhance their business

October 4, 2023

&Charge, the leading platform for smart user engagement in the EV charging ecosystem, is set to revolutionize the EV driver experience with the introduction of an innovative SupportBot feature in the &Charge app. This new, recently released feature, aims to address common challenges faced by EV drivers, particularly newcomers to address common challenges faced by new and existing EV drivers to enhance their charging experience. The SupportBot was recently launched on the Source London charging network, operated by TotalEnergies, and is now available at all of their charging stations across London.

One of the primary challenges EV drivers face is navigating the complex charging infrastructure. Authentication issues, such as occupied charging spaces, malfunctioning membership cards and problematic card payments, and unexpected charging interruptions, can lead to frustration and wasted time, even when the charging infrastructure itself is fully functional.

&Charge’s new SupportBot feature is designed to provide immediate support and assistance to EV drivers when they encounter these common challenges. By offering real-time guidance and solutions, the SupportBot helps:

Secure charging sessions: The SupportBot will help EV drivers troubleshoot authentication and payment issues to ensure a smooth and secure charging session.

Route to available charging stations: In cases where a charging station is unavailable or facing technical issues, the bot will guide drivers to the nearest available charging station, prioritising the charging stations of &Charge partners.

Preventing drivers from getting stuck: By addressing problems swiftly, the SupportBot will prevent EV drivers from getting stuck at charging stations, allowing them to continue their journeys without issues.

Reduce call center dependence: The bot aims to divert EV drivers from traditional call center support to a more efficient and user-friendly digital alternative.

The introduction of the SupportBot aligns with &Charge’s commitment to enhancing the overall EV charging experience. It offers added value to both businesses and EV drivers, as it is expected to reduce call volumes, and offer personalised support and fast(er) assistance. 

Nicolas Garnier, Managing Director of TotalEnergies Charging Solutions UK, states “launching the new SupportBot on our Source London network is a proud moment. This milestone gives customers even more ways to get the support they need, without having to make a call (although our phone lines are available 24/7, 365 days per year).

This SupportBot, deployed on Source London, is a great example of customer service innovation, made possible through our collaboration with our partners at &Charge.”

Simon Vogt, CSO and co-founder of &Charge: “We are quite excited about this cooperation. Source London is one of London’s largest electric vehicle charge-point networks and we are proud to be a trusted partner and help realize solid benefits for their charging infrastructure.

After we successfully established the cooperation last year, the launch of the SupportBot marks a huge milestone towards innovative support and assistance for EV drivers” 

Are you an EV driver? Download &Charge on the app store (Apple) or get it on Google Play (Android).

For businesses that want to improve the charging experience of EV drivers, contact &Charge here. 

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About &Charge 

&Charge is the leading platform combining smart user engagement with value-added services around EV charging. The technology company has established unique “plug and play” value-added services (Software as a Service) in the global E-Mobility ecosystem, available on the &Charge Value Platform via flexible APIs or the partner dashboard. & Charge’s smart reward mechanism is based on the first sustainable loyalty scheme for EV drivers. Users can collect &Charge kilometers for their activities like feedback on charging sessions and online shopping in more than 1,500 partner shops which can be redeemed for free charging sessions. This smart mechanism empowers the huge &Charge EV driver crowd and its strong daily engagement for crowd-sourced data around EV charging. 

The corresponding &Charge app is the dedicated daily companion for EV drivers and impresses with a unique gamification approach by which users also can reach certain levels and receive batches for their engagement. &Charge makes charging cheaper, more reliable, and just fun for every EV driver. Porsche Ventures and Helen Ventures have invested in the platform to accelerate the development and roll-out across Europe further.

Find more information at https://www.and-charge.com.

An electric car charges at a charging station and the driver uses the &Charge app. There is a UK flag in the corner.

Introducing the &Charge value platform in the UK – offering CPOs the chance to enhance their business

5 tips for living more sustainably

August 30, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

Introducing the &Charge value platform in the UK – offering CPOs the chance to enhance their business

Electric vehicle adoption is accelerating globally, and the demand for reliable, efficient, and user-friendly charging solutions is on the rise. CPOs play a big role in shaping this ecosystem, and &Charge is enabling them to take a giant leap forward in achieving their business objectives. The &Charge Platform offers CPOs real-time insights, enhanced reliability, and profitability in the ever-evolving EV charging industry.

&Charge’s value platform introduces a suite of tools and insights that enable CPOs to market their charging stations, increase the uptime of their charging infrastructure and use improved data around the charging location. These are some examples of things that the &Charge value platform offers:

&Charge Operations Management makes it possible to engage the experienced &Charge Crowd to perform validations and checks on site (incl. dedicated Services Level) instead of sending expensive technicians and third party providers (e.g. time critical validations of incidents, complete audits and assessments of the entire infrastructure)

&Charge Reputation Management is your direct line to every EV driver at your charging stations. Receive real-time feedback on the charging experiences of your customers incl. the Net Promoter Score (neutral) as key KPI for your daily operations

&Charge POI Data Management offers validated, enhanced and enriched POI data from and around charging stations to always guarantee the highest possible data quality for your charging network and increase the overall appearance and brand awareness

&Charge Loyalty / Retention Management offers a campaign tool to acquire new customers and enrich existing customers by a smart reward mechanism.

These real-time data insights empower CPOs to make data-driven decisions, optimize operations and provide a superior charging experience.

The success of &Charge’s value proposition is validated through partnerships with industry leaders such as IONITY and Source London. IONITY has integrated &Charge’s solution to gain structured feedback and insights from users, ensuring the quality and performance of their charging stations. This is what IONITY says about the collaboration: 

‍ “The collaboration with &Charge is an important component of our quality assurance: feedback related to our charging stations is fed into our systems in a structured way via an interface. We can then evaluate potential issues and act quickly. The crowd-source approach of &Charge helps us to intensify the relationship with our customers across borders and to benefit from the daily experiences of the community.“

Source London is also collaborating with &Charge to enhance the overall charging experience for EV drivers and gathers real-time feedback on the charging experience via dedicated &Charge QR code on every charging station in London. The upcoming integration with an innovative Support Bot further showcases &Charge’s commitment to innovation and problem-solving in the industry.

‍With the &Charge Value Platform, CPOs can confidently navigate the evolving landscape of EV charging, providing seamless, reliable, and rewarding experiences to EV drivers. &Charge’s mission to transform charging into a fulfilling experience extends to both consumers and businesses, contributing to the growth of the electric vehicle ecosystem worldwide.

Want to become part of the world’s leading platform to gain real-time insights at charging locations? Please visit https://and-charge.com/#/emobility-partner

–  

About &Charge 

&Charge is the leading platform combining smart user engagement with value-added services around EV charging. The technology company has established unique “plug and play” value-added services (Software as a Service) in the global E-Mobility ecosystem, available on the &Charge Value Platform via flexible APIs or the partner dashboard. & Charge’s smart reward mechanism is based on the first sustainable loyalty scheme for EV drivers. Users can collect &Charge kilometers for their activities like feedback on charging sessions and online shopping in more than 1,500 partner shops which can be redeemed for free charging sessions. This smart mechanism empowers the huge &Charge EV driver crowd and its strong daily engagement for crowd-sourced data around EV charging. 

The corresponding &Charge app is the dedicated daily companion for EV drivers and impresses with a unique gamification approach by which users also can reach certain levels and receive batches for their engagement. &Charge makes charging cheaper, more reliable, and just fun for every EV driver. Porsche Ventures and Helen Ventures have invested in the platform to accelerate the development and roll-out across Europe further.

Find more information at https://www.and-charge.com.

Press contact

For more information and media opportunities, please contact And-ChargePR@nexxtindustry.com – Phone +31 85 060 13 11.

One hand the earth with the sign of the recycling cycle.

What is sustainability and how can I live more sustainably?

The EV Enthusiast Leaderboard by &Charge recognizes and rewards community members for their contributions, such as sharing reviews and photos of charging stations. Top participants can earn points and gain recognition.

May 24, 2023

A little history

The term sustainability was first used in 1713 in relation to forestry. Even then, the goal of sustainability was to create a stable equilibrium. This included the basic idea that only as many trees should be cut down as can be replanted. However, it was not until 1983-1987 that the term ‘sustainability’ really came into use. It was then that the term appeared in a Bundtland report. From this report came a world-famous definition of sustainable development: “Humanity has the capacity to make development sustainable – to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”.

However, sustainability is not just about a specific period of time, but about our whole lives. For example, the UN Sustainable Development Summit in 2015 launched the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Within 15 years, 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are to be achieved. These goals cover issues such as Eradicating hunger and poverty, promoting decent work, economic growth and climate action.

Be sustainable with the &Charge app!

Did you know that you can also use your collected KM points in the &Charge app for sustainable and charitable purposes? It’s child’s play! All you have to do is go to the “Redeem” section in the app’s home screen and select “Do good” from the filter options. You will now see our partners where you can redeem your KM. These include WWF, UNICEF, WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME, DEUTSCHES ROTES KREUZ, OneDollarGlasses and ECOSIA.

Have you already donated your KM and want to be even more sustainable? Here are 5 tips for a more sustainable lifestyle.

5 tips for living more sustainably

Tip 1:

Buy local. By buying local, you support local farmers and reduce the amount of food that has to be transported. This will also reduce the amount of climate-damaging CO2 gases emitted during transport. You can buy locally at farmers’ markets, weekly markets, farm shops or organic supermarkets.

Tip 2:

When shopping in supermarkets, avoid food that comes in plastic packaging. Instead, use a sustainable fruit and vegetable net and do not use plastic bags for your shopping. You can use baskets or cotton bags made from sustainable materials. You can also visit unpackaged shops to minimize your plastic use.

Tip 3:

Shop seasonally. Supermarkets offer a wide range of fruit and vegetables in every season. Unfortunately, it is not sustainable to buy strawberries in winter, for example. It saves resources to buy what is in season. Find out which fruits and vegetables are in season in your area.

Tip 4:

You can also be more sustainable at home. Use fewer synthetic chemical household cleaners. They are not only bad for the environment, but also bad for your health. Use home remedies instead. Try freezing leftover food instead of throwing it away. Avoid common fridge mistakes and keep your fridge well stocked to keep your food fresh longer. Use reusable beeswax wipes instead of cling film and aluminium foil. You can also switch to a green energy supplier and use LED lights in your home.

Tip 5:

Have a sustainable wardrobe. As the textile industry is a major contributor to environmental pollution, it is a good idea to think about sustainability when it comes to your textile consumption. Look for textiles made from organic cotton, which has not been treated with pesticides. Look for the FAIRTRADE logo (also on food). The Fairtrade Cotton mark stands for fairly traded cotton and fair living and working conditions for cotton farmers. Find out which textile manufacturers are members of the Fair Wear Foundation. Look for the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) label. It stands for strict organic criteria throughout the production chain (excluding retail). GOTS is constantly improving its requirements through new versions of the standard, while ensuring that they remain feasible for manufacturers and retailers in the mass market to achieve maximum leverage. GOTS is a manufacturing standard and a registered trademark. The entire production chain “from field to fashion” must be certified.

Screenshots from the &Charge app with the EV League

Contribute and earn EV Enthusiast points! Can you make it to the top this month?

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A truck crashed into a charging station in Remscheid, Germany. The incident was quickly reported by the &Charge community, helping with damage assessment and repairs.

March 23, 2023

Charging station of the month – When the charging station becomes a victim of the truck…

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With these tips, you can save electricity when driving electrically and even gain range.

February 28, 2023

Electric car charging at a charging station

How to save electricity with your electric car!

3 reasons why you should try a &Charge Challenge while charging at IONITY.

February 17, 2023

Electricity prices are rising and many e-car drivers are wondering how they can reduce their energy consumption in everyday life and thus save some money.
With our tips, you can save electricity when driving electric and even gain range.

What you should look out for when buying an electric car:

Before you buy an electric car, there are a few factors you should consider to ensure you get the best e-car for your needs. Here are a few things to look out for.

Battery Capacity / Range: Check the range of the car when it is fully charged and make sure it is sufficient for your daily driving needs. Saving energy starts with the selection of the electric car. That’s why when choosing an electric car, make sure the battery capacity is right for you. After all, the bigger the battery, the heavier it is, and more weight means: higher energy consumption.

Charging times: Consider how long it takes to recharge the car and whether it fits comfortably into your daily routine. It is also advisable to charge the electric car at a wallbox instead of a standard household socket. This way, your car will not only charge safer and faster, but also more efficiently.

Availability of charging stations: If you don’t have your own charging facility at home, check if there are enough charging stations in your area to charge your e-car.

Performance and driving behavior: Check the e-car’s performance and ride, including acceleration, handling and stability, and make sure it meets your needs.

So how can I save electricity if I’ve already decided to buy an electric car?

The biggest impact on the energy consumption of an electric car is the individual driving style and charging behavior. Apart from that, there are also factors such as the outside temperature, but these cannot be influenced.

Details such as rim size and tire pressure also have an impact on the range of your e-car. To reduce consumption, it is recommended to use the smallest possible rim size. For example, 1 inch can make a difference of 30km range.

Tires also play a role. Narrow and rolling resistance optimized tires with aerodynamically closed rims have a positive effect. About 0.2 bar additional tire pressure is usually not a problem and can provide additional range.

Of course, the same applies as with the internal combustion engine: Avoid unnecessary luggage. The lower the vehicle weight and the air resistance, the more energy-efficient you will be.

What else should you consider when driving?

Use regenerative braking energy:
The term “recuperation” describes the technical process of recovering energy when slowing down in hybrids or all-electric cars. This happens when you take your foot off the gas without touching the brake pedal. This noticeable resistance is precisely what recuperation is.

Try to use this recuperation as often as possible instead of the brake to use regenerative braking energy. The electric motor converts the kinetic energy generated during driving back into electrical energy. This is stored in the battery and provides more range for the electric vehicle.

Avoid unnecessary acceleration and deceleration:
Accelerate gently and avoid abrupt braking, as this increases energy consumption. Let your e-car coast when you want to slow down.

Driving at higher speeds has the greatest impact on range. You will notice this especially when driving longer distances on the highway. The reason for this is that high speed requires more energy due to the higher air resistance. Therefore, avoid excessive speed. Try to maintain a constant speed instead of accelerating quickly and then braking again, as this increases energy consumption.

It is recommended to use the eco or energy saving mode. This reduces energy consumption by limiting functions such as air conditioning or engine power.

Plan the route carefully: try to plan the route so that you have as little stop and go traffic as possible and drive on roads with low traffic volumes to minimize energy consumption.

Have fun saving energy 🙂

A user uses the &Charge app at an IONITY charging station

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