The summer holidays are here now, and so are the risk of traffic jams at charging stations. Queues at charging points will inevitably be part of your journeys this summer. We will share some insights and tips on how to make the most of waiting time so that you can avoid queues as much as possible.

• Keep your battery at a certain level

Never wait until you are approaching a battery level of 0% before charging, especially during the holiday period when you tend to need to charge more frequently. Check the available charging stations along your route. Consider factors like the distance between chargers. Moreover, charging takes longer when your battery level is under 20% or over 80%. Because there may be too many EVs queueing up at the charging station or some charging points may be out of order.

• Speed matters

Unless you are planning for a longer stop, faster chargers can reduce your charging time during stops, making your trip more efficient. But a high-speed charger is not ideal for every situation. It's advisable to use a charging point that's suited to the technology on board your electric car.

Driving speed also matters. Dropping your speed a few miles an hour can really increase your EV's efficiency. The faster you're going, the harder your EV is working.

• Avoid peak time

Try to charge in the early morning or late evening, these are the ideal time slots to enjoy a bit of calm and cooler summer temperatures. In fact, your charging time is optimised if you charge your EV outside the hottest moments of the day.