A recent Daily Gazette guide („Five tips, so you don’t get stranded with the e‑car“) confirms: charging at home/work is the cheapest, Prices & Apps check in advance, Roaming can be up to ~70 % more expensive , Type‑2 cable for AC‑Stations carry. These points align with our recommendations below.
Anyone who wants to travel relaxed and cheaply with an electric car must, above all, have two things under control:
Prices and Planning
The current guide in the Tages-Anzeiger hits the nail on the head: charging at home or at work is usually the cheapest; on the road the right app decides – and roaming can massively increase the price. This is exactly where we step in and show how you can charge smartly on the go without getting tangled in tariff confusion.
Roaming means that you charge at a foreign pole using a third‑party app or charging card. This is convenient, but often more expensive than the operator’s direct price. If you want to save costs, check the effectively payable kWh price including any start and blocking fees in the app before starting or directly at the QR screen. If the roaming price is significantly higher, switching to the operator‑app is worthwhile. As a rough guideline: Below about 0.60 CHF/kWh you are generally cheaper than with gasoline or diesel. If you have some time, you also charge at AC poles with Type‑2 usually cheaper than at the fast charger – and also protect the battery.
Travel planning saves double
Time and money. With an EV route planner you choose charging stops based on vehicle, speed and desired battery level. Many models charge fastest between ten and sixty percent – therefore two shorter stops are often more efficient and cheaper than one long one up to 100 percent, especially since at DC chargers above roughly 80 percent the power drops and some operators add minute or blocking fees. Plan your stops where you already spend 30 to 60 minutes – while eating, shopping or walking –, and provide one or two alternatives along the route, then you stay relaxed if a pole is occupied.
Cost traps can be easily avoided with a bit of routine. Set a reminder in the app so that you don't keep paying by the minute after charging ends. Check the price and the power of the charging column before you set off, instead of being surprised only after plugging in. And if you regularly charge publicly at the same locations, an operator subscription can be worthwhile – but only if it fits your typical routes. A Type-2 cable belongs in every trunk; a simple emergency charging cable for a household socket can be a lifesaver on trips.
