EV charging in France: tips from a Tesla driver with second home in south

Jonathan Wort, 73, is a retired contracts manager who regularly drives from the UK to his second home in the south of France in a Tesla. 

Over the past four years, Mr Wort has been driving a Tesla Model 3, finding a rhythm of multiple three-to-four-week stays each year - and increasingly relying on public EV charging during his trips.

Here are his tips in his own words for fellow EV users:

We use Tesla superchargers on main routes, but when travelling off the beaten track we rely on public charging points. 

Our house in the Luberon (Vaucluse) is in a pedestrian area with no accessible domestic supply, so public charging is essential.

We also use universal charging cards, which let us connect to different operators without opening separate accounts. 

We currently use three:

• ChargeMap - Works widely across France and Europe, billed monthly.

• Electroverse - Usable across Europe and the UK, billed after each charge. No Octopus account is needed.

• Ulys Pass Electric - Works across France and Spain, billed monthly, managed through the same app as our télépéage badge.

We use the apps to check maps showing station locations, connector types, charge rates, card compatibility and tariffs. 

We also rely on the support services for billing or technical issues and review our charging history to spot errors. 

For route planning, we use the apps alongside in-car navigation to plan recharge stops.

Tariffs vary widely, and we try to avoid leaving the car once it is charged, as some operators charge per minute. 

We find Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) authentication more reliable than bank cards, though contactless payment can fail in rural areas. 

For us, the biggest advantage of universal cards is having a single support channel and visibility of our charging history. 

We also find user comments and photos on the apps-especially ChargeMap-helpful when visiting new sites.

Do you drive to or within France in an EV? Share your tips with other Connexion readers at feedback@connexionfrance.com