How to Plan an Electric Car Trip: Complete Checklist

The golden rule: planning is half the trip

With a combustion car, route planning is simple: drive until the tank runs low, stop at any station. With electric, planning is more intentional, but after you do 2-3 trips, it becomes second nature.

The fundamental difference: instead of looking for fuel on the road, you define the stops before leaving. This changes the experience — for the better, in most cases. Planned stops mean better lunches, coffees in interesting places and less fatigue.

Before leaving: the pre-trip checklist

1. Calculate the total distance and the charging stops

First, know the distance of your trip and the real range of your car. Real range, not the brochure's — usually 20-30% lower than the WLTP figure, especially on the highway.

Vehicle	WLTP range	Real range (highway)
BYD Dolphin Mini	280 km	200-220 km
BYD Dolphin	400 km	280-320 km
BYD Yuan Plus	510 km	380-420 km
Volvo EX30	450 km	340-370 km
GWM Ora 03	400 km	300-330 km

Rule of thumb: Plan stops every 200-250 km of highway, even if the range allows more. This avoids anxiety and lets you reach the charger with 15-20% of battery — the ideal range to start a fast charge.

2. Map the chargers along the route

Use at least two apps to check availability:

• PlugShare: The most complete globally. Shows connector type, power, photos of the location and user reviews.
• ABRP (A Better Route Planner): Plans the entire route considering your car model, temperature, speed and elevation. Suggests optimized stops automatically.
• Operator's app: Tupinambá, Zletric, Shell Recharge — each operator has its app with the real-time status of the chargers.

3. Charge to 100% before leaving

Exception to the 20-80% rule: before a long trip, charge to 100%. Especially on LFP batteries (BYD Dolphin, Yuan Plus), this is safe and recommended. Leave with the maximum possible range.

4. Check the tire pressure

Properly inflated tires can make a 10-15% difference in range. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation (usually printed on the driver's door). For highway trips, some drivers inflate 2-3 PSI above the city recommendation.

5. Precondition the battery

Many modern EVs allow you to precondition the battery before arriving at the charger. If your car has this function (BYD, Tesla, Volvo), activate it 15-20 minutes before the stop. A battery at the ideal temperature accepts a charge faster.

On the road: efficient driving tips

Speed matters — a lot

In a combustion car, the difference between driving at 100 km/h and 120 km/h is marginal in consumption. In an EV, that difference can be 20-25% of range. Aerodynamic drag grows exponentially with speed.

• 100 km/h: Efficient consumption, range close to ideal
• 110 km/h: Acceptable consumption, ~10% range loss
• 120 km/h: High consumption, ~20-25% range loss

If range is tight, reducing speed by 10-20 km/h can be the difference between reaching the charger comfortably or with anxiety.

Use regenerative braking

On descents and when slowing down, regenerative braking recovers energy for the battery. On the Serra do Mar (BR-277 Curitiba-Paranaguá), for example, it is possible to recover 15-20% of charge on the way down. Set the regeneration level to maximum ("one pedal" mode if available).

"A well-planned electric car trip is more relaxing than a combustion one. Scheduled stops mean less rush and more enjoyment."

Routes departing from Curitiba

For those who live in Curitiba and the metropolitan region, here are the main routes with charging points:

Curitiba → Coast (Guaratuba/Matinhos) — ~110 km

A short route. Most EVs make the round trip on one charge. If you need to recharge, there are points in Paranaguá and on the coast. Watch out for the climb up the mountain range on the way back — it consumes more battery.

Curitiba → Florianópolis — ~300 km

One charging stop does it. Chargers available in Joinville and Balneário Camboriú. Leave at 100% and stop at 15-20% in Joinville (~180 km). Recharge to 80% and continue.

Curitiba → São Paulo — ~410 km

Two stops are comfortable. The BR-116 has chargers in Registro, Jacupiranga and along the São Paulo stretch. Via the BR-376 + Castelo Branco, there are options in Ponta Grossa and along the route.

Curitiba → Foz do Iguaçu — ~640 km

The longest trip on the list. It requires 2-3 charging stops. Chargers available in Ponta Grossa, Guarapuava and Cascavel. Plan with ABRP to optimize the stops.

What to do if the battery gets low

If the anxiety hits and the battery is lower than expected:

1. Reduce speed to 80-90 km/h: This can add 30-50 km of range.
2. Turn off the air conditioning: In moderate temperatures, open the windows. It can save 10-15% of range.
3. Use Eco mode: It limits the power and maximizes efficiency.
4. Find the nearest charger in the app: Even a slow AC at a hotel or restaurant can provide enough range to reach the next fast DC.
5. Don't panic: The car shows the remaining range. Trust the numbers and adjust your driving.

The experience of traveling by EV

After 2-3 trips, most owners report that they prefer traveling by EV. The reasons:

• More planned and pleasant stops: Instead of 5 minutes at a gas station, 25 minutes in a place with a coffee shop, restaurant or view.
• Less fatigue: Regular 25-30 minute stops reduce tiredness on long trips.
• Silence: The acoustic comfort of an EV on the highway is incomparable. Less noise = less tiredness.
• Lower cost: Even paying for fast DC charging on the road, the energy cost is 40-60% lower than gasoline.

Before hitting the road, stop by Elektro Charge on Av. Maringá, Pinhais — 60 kW DC, CCS2, 24h. Leave Curitiba with a full battery and a planned route.

"The first electric car trip causes anxiety. The second builds confidence. From the third on, you don't want to go back to gasoline."

Conclusion

Planning an electric car trip is simple: map the chargers, leave at 100%, maintain an efficient speed and enjoy the stops. The Brazilian infrastructure in 2026 already supports long-distance trips with peace of mind, and it only gets better every month.

The checklist in this article works for any EV, any destination. Save it, share it and have a good trip.