Charging on the highway: where to find stations and how much does it cost?
Jan 23, 2026
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Charging on the motorway: our guide to worry-free electric travel
Are you planning a long trip in your electric car and worried about breaking down? Rest assured: in France, 100% of highway service areas are now equipped with fast charging stations. According to ASFA, the highway network has more than 3,100 charging points, 83% of which deliver more than 150 kW of power. During your coffee break, you can recharge enough to continue your journey with peace of mind.
The French highway network: no more dead zones
The fear of not finding a station on the highway is a thing of the past. Concessionaires such as VINCI Autoroutes, APRR, and AREA have invested heavily in equipping all of their areas. Today, you can find a charging point approximately every 30 km on major highways.
Service areas vs. rest areas: where to recharge?
It is important to distinguish between the two types of areas. Service areas, which have gas stations, restaurants, and shops, are 100% equipped with electric charging infrastructure. Rest areas, which are more basic (parking lots, restrooms, picnic tables), are only partially covered. For long trips, it is therefore best to recharge at service areas.
Operators such as Ionity, Tesla, TotalEnergies, Fastned, and Electra have deployed maintenance teams to ensure a reliable experience for drivers. The network is constantly improving, with availability rates steadily increasing.
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Fast or ultra-fast charging: what's the difference?
On the highway, you will encounter two types of stations: fast (around 50 kW) and ultra-fast (150 kW and above, up to 350 or 400 kW). This distinction radically changes your stop time.
Fast stations (50 kW): the time it takes to eat a meal
With a 50 kW fast station, it takes 30 to 45 minutes to go from 20% to 80% battery charge on most vehicles. That's the time it takes to eat a meal or take a proper break. These stations are ideal if you have planned a longer stop.
Ultra-fast stations (150 to 400 kW): the time it takes to drink a coffee
Ultra-fast 150 to 400 kW stations reduce this time to 15-25 minutes. At a 400 kW Electra station, compatible vehicles such as the Porsche Taycan, Audi e-tron GT, or Hyundai Ioniq 5 can recover 80% of their range in the time it takes to drink a coffee. This is the ideal solution for synchronizing your charging with your recommended two-hour break.
The 20-minute rule: recharge during your break
Road safety recommendations advise taking a break every two hours of driving. With equipment delivering 300 to 400 kW of power, you can recover 80% of your range in about 20 minutes, which is just enough time to grab a coffee, stretch your legs, and use the restroom.
This synchronization between physiological breaks and recharging completely transforms the electric travel experience. No need to plan additional stops: your natural driving rhythm perfectly matches the needs of your vehicle.
Connectors and compatibility: the European standard simplifies everything
The Combo CCS (Combined Charging System) connector has become the European standard for fast DC charging. Whether you drive a Renault Megane E-Tech, Volkswagen ID.4, Hyundai Ioniq 5, or Tesla Model 3, you can plug into almost all of the equipment on the highway network.
Stations generally offer several types of sockets: Combo CCS for the vast majority of recent vehicles, CHAdeMO for some older models (notably the Nissan Leaf), and sometimes three-phase AC sockets. This universality means you don't have to worry about compatibility before hitting the road.
How much does it cost to charge on the highway?
On the highway, kWh costs more than at home. Rates generally range from €0.39 to €0.79/kWh depending on the operator, the plan chosen, and how busy the station is. This difference is due to the installation and maintenance costs of high-power equipment.
To give you an idea, charging 50 kWh (equivalent to around 250 to 300 km of range depending on your vehicle) will cost between €20 and €40 depending on the operator and your plan. This is certainly more expensive than at home, but it is still competitive compared to filling up with gasoline for an equivalent distance.
Comparison of highway rates (January 2025)
Operator | Rate without subscription | Rate with subscription |
Electra | €0.39-0.61/kWh (variable) | €0.29/kWh (Boost €9.99/month) |
Ionity | €0.79/kWh | €0.39/kWh (€59.99/year) |
Fastned | €0.59/kWh | €0.41/kWh (€11.99/month) |
TotalEnergies | €0.59/kWh | Varies depending on offer |
Subscriptions: the solution for frequent drivers
If you regularly use the highway, subscription plans quickly become cost-effective. Electra offers two options.
The Electra+ Start subscription at €1.99/month sets the price per kWh at €0.39, regardless of traffic. For occasional users, this is a good compromise: you eliminate price variability for a modest cost.
The Electra+ Boost subscription at €9.99/month drops the price to €0.29/kWh. On a 50 kWh charge, you save between €5 and €16 compared to the non-subscription rate. This subscription becomes profitable once you consume 50 kWh per month. Another advantage is that it gives you access to a preferential rate of €0.49/kWh on the Ionity, Fastned, and Atlante partner networks, without having to take out multiple subscriptions.
How do you pay for charging on the highway?
No more headaches with multiple badges and apps. European AFIR regulations now require payment by credit card at all new installations. There are three options available to you.
Contactless credit card payment is the simplest solution. You tap your card on the terminal, the session starts, and you are charged at the end of the charge. No need to create an account or download an app. At Electra, this method is billed at €0.61/kWh.
Operators' mobile apps offer better rates and more features: consumption tracking, charging history, and access to subscriptions. With the Electra app, you benefit from dynamic rates (€0.39-0.61/kWh) or subscriber rates.
Finally, charging badges or passes (Chargemap, Shell Recharge, etc.) give you access to several networks with a single card. This is convenient for those who use multiple operators depending on their routes.
The future of charging: electric roads are coming to the A10
What if tomorrow you no longer needed to stop to recharge? This scenario is becoming a reality. On a 1.5 km section of the A10 motorway near Angervilliers in Essonne, a consortium led by VINCI Autoroutes has been testing the world's first induction electric road on a motorway open to traffic since October 2025.
The principle behind the "Charge as you drive" project is fascinating. Copper transmitter coils are buried under the asphalt and generate an electromagnetic field. Vehicles equipped with receivers capture this energy as they drive and recharge their batteries without stopping. Four prototypes are currently participating in the tests: a heavy goods vehicle, a bus, a utility vehicle, and an electric car.
This technology opens up exciting possibilities. Ultimately, it could reduce the size of on-board batteries, as vehicles would be continuously recharged on major roads. The Department of Transportation plans to roll out the technology on nearly 5,000 km of highways by 2030.
Our tips for stress-free highway travel
Plan your route in advance. Apps such as Chargemap, A Better Route Planner, or the one built into your vehicle will show you the stations on your route, their availability in real time, and the rates charged. Identify two or three potential charging points for each planned stop.
Aim to recharge your battery from 20% to 80%. Above 80%, the charging speed slows down significantly to preserve the battery. It is better to make two quick stops than one very long stop.
Aim for service areas rather than rest areas. Service areas are 100% equipped, offer high power and have all the amenities (food, restrooms, shops) to make your break more enjoyable.
Download your preferred operator's app before you set off. Create your account, register your payment method, and familiarize yourself with the interface.
Ready to hit the road with peace of mind?
Traveling by electric car on the highway has never been easier. With 100% of service areas equipped, charging power that allows you to recover 80% of your range in 20 minutes, and payment solutions accessible to all, the anxiety of breaking down is definitely a thing of the past.
The rates, which are admittedly higher than at home, are justified by the convenience and power of the service. And with subscriptions such as Electra+ Boost at €9.99/month, you can recharge at €0.29/kWh, a rate that rivals home charging.
Discover the Electra fast charging station network and download the app to locate your nearest station. With more than 300 stations and nearly 2,000 ultra-fast charging points in France, Electra is there for you on all your journeys.
Check out our transparent rates to choose the plan that suits your needs. Charge at the station, pay as you would at home.
Written by Nicolas, Electra mobility expert
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