European EV drivers increase long-distance travel despite charging fee concerns

Data from the Dutch motoring organization ANWB indicates that European electric vehicle (EV) drivers are increasingly traveling long distances. Analysis of approximately 600,000 charging cards showed over 4.8 million charging sessions during the summer of 2026. While Germany, France, and Belgium remain the most popular destinations for Dutch EV drivers, there is significant growth in Southern Europe, with charging sessions in Italy and Austria increasing by 185% and 231% respectively. Destinations such as Portugal and North Macedonia are also appearing in the data, suggesting that range anxiety is diminishing.

However, unpredictable charging costs remain a significant issue for travelers. While price transparency is improving in some regions—such as Switzerland and Austria, where the proportion of high-cost sessions has declined—hidden fees and incompatible payment systems persist. A notable example involved a driver in Paris who received a bill exceeding €400 for a single session, largely due to idling or blocking fees incurred by leaving the vehicle connected for three days.