Where can you recharge your electric car in Switzerland?

Recharging your electric car in Switzerland is getting easier all the time, thanks to the expansion of recharging facilities. Here's a guide to help you find charging points, understand the charges and benefit from a few good deals.

1. The different types of charging point

In Switzerland, you can find different types of terminals:

• Home charging point : Installing a home charging point is the most practical solution for homeowners. It allows you to recharge your vehicle overnight. You'll need an electrician to install a suitable charging point.
• Public charging point : These charging points are available in public car parks, shopping centres, service stations and motorway service areas. They are managed by various operators such as EVPass, Move and GreenMotion.
• Tesla Superchargers : For Tesla owners, superchargers are fast charging points specific to the brand, but Tesla is increasingly opening up its network to other vehicles.

2. How to find charging stations

There are several ways to locate charging points:

• Mobile Applications and Websites :
  • Chargemap: One of the most popular in Europe, it allows you to locate kiosks, check their availability and find out their prices.
  • Plugsurfing: Another application offering access to a wide network of charging points across Europe.
  • Apps from local operators : Each operator often has its own application (e.g. Move, EVPass) where you can see the available terminals, their status, and sometimes even reserve a space.
• Google Maps: Google is also increasingly including charging points in its maps, which can be very useful when planning a route.

3. Recharge Rates

Rates vary according to a number of factors:

• Type of terminal : Fast charging points (DC) are generally more expensive than normal charging points (AC).
• Operator: Each operator sets its own rates, which may vary according to the time of day or the type of terminal.
• Subscriptions : Some operators offer subscriptions that can reduce the cost of recharging if you use their network regularly.

Prices can be charged per kilowatt-hour (kWh), per minute, or a flat rate per session. For example:

• EVPass : Approx. CHF 0.50/min for DC fast charging.
• Move : 0.45 CHF/kWh for normal AC charging.

4. Good Plans and Advice

• Subscriptions and multi-operator cards : Cards such as Plugsurfing or NewMotion allow you to access several networks with a single account, which can simplify management and sometimes reduce costs.
• Off-peak home recharging : If possible, recharge your car during off-peak hours to benefit from reduced electricity rates.
• Free top-up : Some kiosks in supermarkets, hotels and certain shopping centres offer free recharging to customers. It's a good idea to check these options before you leave.

5. Practical advice

• Plan your journeys in advance: For long journeys, use tools such as A Better Routeplanner, which optimise stops according to your vehicle and the available charging points.
• Be prepared for the unexpected: It's always a good idea to have a safety margin and to know about several terminals on your route in case the first one is busy or out of order.

By following these tips and using the right tools, recharging your electric car in Switzerland becomes a simple and effective task.