Get to Know Your Route and Plan Your Charging
If you haven’t yet embarked on a long journey with your electric vehicle (EV) or are traveling on an unfamiliar route, it’s important to spend some time researching charging stations along the way and planning your stops. The Eldrive mobile app is designed to help you easily find the most convenient charging stations in our network, providing detailed information such as their locations, types, power capacities, connector types, and real-time station availability. Depending on your needs and preferences, you can plan to charge at a super-fast station if you want to recharge quickly and continue your trip, or at a lower-power station if you prefer to combine charging with a longer break—whether for lunch, a walk, or even some shopping. Download the app for iOS and Android.
Use Convenient Charging Locations
Charging your EV doesn’t take much time, but it’s always better and more efficient to choose well-developed locations with various nearby services. This allows you to use your time more productively, even if you stop for just a few minutes. Commercial centers or restaurants are just some of the perks of a well-planned charging location. Eldrive offers a wide range of attractive locations where you can charge your EV and enjoy your time while you wait.
Choose the Optimal Charging Station for Your Car’s Capabilities
It’s always important to select a charging station that matches your EV’s charging capabilities. For example, if your car can handle up to 100 kW, there’s no need to seek out a station with higher power (e.g., above 180 kW) and change your route just to reach it. Instead, find the most convenient station with an optimal power output that suits your car’s capabilities and its charging curve.
Prefer Locations with Multiple Charging Points
Although the charging infrastructure in the country is well-developed for the number of EVs on the road, there’s always a chance that another car might be charging at your selected station. That’s why we recommend choosing locations with multiple charging points to avoid sharing the station’s power or waiting for a connector to become available. As a reminder, at the end of 2022, Eldrive made a strategic move to expand its network and EV infrastructure in Bulgaria by creating super-fast charging hubs along major road routes, offering between 6 and 20 connectors for fast and ultra-fast charging.
Charge to an Optimal Level – 80% or 90%
It’s tempting to charge your battery to 100%, but it’s worth noting that the last 10%–20% of charging takes significantly longer. For this reason, it’s recommended to charge your EV to 80% or 90%, avoiding the sharp drop in charging speed as you approach 100%. Additionally, this helps extend your battery’s lifespan and maintain its health. Plan for a quick top-up if needed instead of waiting for a full charge at a fast-charging station—it will save you time.
Prepare Your Battery for Charging, If Possible
Many modern mid-range and high-end EVs have a special feature for preconditioning the battery before charging. Activating this feature allows the battery to reach its optimal temperature for charging, which can significantly increase the charging speed—sometimes even doubling it. It’s recommended to activate this function approximately 30 minutes before charging, if your EV supports this feature. Some models automatically start preheating when the charging station’s location is entered into the navigation system, while in other cases, it needs to be manually activated through the car’s menu.
If You Need Assistance...
If you’re using Eldrive’s services and need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our customer service center is available 24/7, ready to help with any questions and provide solutions. Reach us at +359 2 419 3476, which is listed in the instructions on our stations, in the mobile app, and on the Eldrive website.
