Ski holidays in an electric car: how to make a long winter trip stress-free?
Feb 5, 2026
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Going skiing in an electric car: your guide to a stress-free winter trip
Every winter, trips to ski resorts are one of the busiest times for travel in France and Europe. For many drivers, these long-distance journeys bring with them the main challenges of winter driving, with sometimes difficult weather conditions, heavy traffic, winding mountain roads, and the need to plan ahead.
For electric car drivers, these challenges are often associated with additional concerns, particularly regarding range, charging, and the availability of infrastructure. However, the reality has changed significantly in recent years. The rapid development of charging networks, improvements in the performance of electric vehicles, and the emergence of accurate planning tools have transformed the experience of long journeys, including in winter.
Today, going skiing in an electric car is no longer a risky venture. It's just a trip that needs to be prepared and planned in advance, just like any other long-distance journey. Here's what you need to know!
Going skiing in an electric car: it's possible!
Trips to ski resorts combine several factors that are unfavorable for the range of an electric vehicle. Depending on the departure point, the distances are often long, the speed on the highway is high, the temperatures are low, and the mountainous terrain is demanding. On paper, this combination of factors can be daunting. For a long time, these factors fueled the idea that electric cars were ill-suited to this type of use.
This perception is largely based on an outdated view of electric mobility. Today's models have a range that is more than sufficient to cover several hundred kilometers, even in winter, provided that the driver adapts their driving style. Above all, the rise of fast charging stations has profoundly changed the logic of travel. Whereas drivers previously had to contend with scarce or unreliable infrastructure, they now have access to powerful charging points on major highways. We at Electra are very familiar with this issue.
Regardless of the starting point, routes to the Alps, Pyrenees, or Jura are now dotted with charging stations. The Charge League partners (Ionity, Fastned, Atlante, and Electra) cover a large part of Europe with more than 2,000 stations. And France is well equipped!
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How can you find charging stations on your vacation route?
The availability of charging stations is often the first concern expressed by electric vehicle drivers before setting off on their winter vacations. However, this issue is no longer relevant. Charging networks have been strategically expanded, particularly along highways and tourist corridors that are heavily used during school holidays. Electra fast charging stations are part of this strategy, with locations designed to meet the needs of long journeys.
High power (up to 400 kW), ease of access, and reliability have become essential criteria for absorbing winter traffic peaks.
Route planning is now based on digital tools capable of integrating numerous parameters. Applications and on-board systems take into account battery level, outside temperature, terrain, and even traffic at charging stations. Charging thus becomes an integrated part of the journey, often associated with a natural break, rather than an unpredictable event to be endured.
In fact, we recently launched the Electra Winter Challenge. This challenge was set for five French YouTubers to answer the question: " What is the best electric car for long journeys? " The main idea is to show that in 2026, going on a skiing vacation will no longer be an obstacle course.
Participants must travel 700 km between Paris and Val d'Isère in electric cars equipped with four-wheel drive and winter tires: Tesla Model Y Performance, Xpeng G9 Performance, Skoda Elroq RS, Audi A6 Avant e-tron Quattro, and Hyundai Ioniq 9 Performance.
Winter: what impact does it have on range?
Cold weather has a real impact on the performance of lithium-ion batteries, and it would be unrealistic to deny it. When temperatures drop, internal chemical reactions slow down, leading to a temporary decrease in available capacity. In winter conditions, this loss is generally between 15 and 25%, depending on the vehicle, the type of journey, and the use of heating.
Unlike combustion engine cars, which recover heat from the engine, electric vehicles must generate heat to warm the passenger compartment, which directly draws on the battery. This explains much of the increased consumption observed in winter. However, manufacturers and charging operators have largely incorporated this constraint into the design of vehicles and infrastructure.
Recent electric cars have advanced thermal management systems that keep the battery within an optimal temperature range, improving both range and charging speed. Pre-conditioning, which heats the passenger compartment and battery while the vehicle is still plugged in, is also an effective way to limit the energy impact of cold weather from the very first miles.
In practice, even if range loss is inevitable in winter, good anticipation and an appropriate charging strategy can neutralize much of the effects of the cold. Winter range is therefore not an obstacle, but a parameter to be taken into account when planning a trip.
How to recharge at your destination?
Once you arrive at the resort, the question of recharging takes on a different perspective. While not all ski resorts have the same level of equipment yet, we are seeing that most accommodations are trying to upgrade, which is excellent news.
Local authorities, tourism operators, and accommodation providers are gradually investing in charging solutions to meet rapidly growing demand. A ranking compiled by Monta and published by Automobile Propre provides an overview of the French ski resorts that are best equipped to accommodate electric cars. It highlights the resorts with the highest proportion of accommodation equipped with charging stations.
Top 10 ski resorts for charging your electric car:
1 - Les Orres
2 - Paradiski
3 - Dévoluy – SuperDévoluy / La Joue du Loup
4 - Espace Killy (Tignes – Val d'Isère)
5 - Serre-Chevalier Valley
6 - Les Quatre Vallées
7 - Le Grand Massif
8 - Les Trois Vallées
9 - Via Lattea
10 - Évasion Mont-Blanc / Portes du Soleil
However, this ranking only reflects part of the reality. It focuses on accommodation, without including all the public charging stations available in the valleys, neighboring towns, or on the access routes to the resorts. In reality, drivers complete their charging before the final ascent or use charging stations located on the outskirts of the resorts.
Tips for a successful winter getaway in an electric car
Setting off on a ski trip in an electric car is all about planning ahead. Checking the weather conditions, traffic conditions, and preparing the vehicle are essential steps. It is also recommended to maintain a safety margin in terms of battery level, so that you can deal with any unexpected events without stress.
On the road, smooth driving and a steady speed help to limit consumption. Fast charging is most effective when the battery is at an intermediate level, which optimizes both downtime and travel comfort. At your destination, overnight charging, when possible, remains the simplest solution.
If not, public charging stations and charging points located near your accommodation offer sufficient flexibility to cover short local trips and prepare for the return journey. In theory, you will hardly need your car once you arrive.
Top 5 things to plan for
1 - Plan your route in advance, identifying several charging options along the way and allowing for a safety margin. This should help you avoid any stressful situations in the event of the unexpected.
2 - Preheating the cabin and battery while the vehicle is still plugged in significantly reduces consumption over the first few miles and improves comfort from the outset. Trust us, it makes a difference!
3 - Adapting your driving to winter conditions, with a steady (or even reduced) speed and anticipating slowdowns, helps to preserve range throughout the journey.
4 - Opt for fast charging when the battery is at an intermediate level, generally between 10 and 30% (for an optimal charging curve), up to 80% to optimize downtime and the overall efficiency of the trip.
5 - Plan ahead for charging at your destination by checking the facilities at your accommodation or the charging stations available near the station. This should make it easier to get around locally and on your return journey.
Ready to hit the road in 2026?
In short, those who say that electric cars are still not capable of handling long holiday trips are wrong! Today, thanks to an increasingly dense charging network, 100% electric models can take you anywhere in Europe, including the mountains.
Going skiing in an electric car is therefore no longer a question of feasibility, but of organization. With the right planning, winter travel can be a smooth, predictable experience that is fully compatible with the demands of the mountains. What's more, this year's snow conditions are said to be particularly good. There's still time to hit the road!
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