Electric driving trips are trending, says Penny McCormick
Main Image; The view from Monastero Santa Rosa, Naples
Lonely Planet’s new guide, Electric Vehicle Road Trips of Europe, €30, highlights how to hit the road in a more eco-friendly way, reporting on which countries have the best rental and charging infrastructures, and listing 60 of the most scenic drives. These include Norway’s Bergen to Ålesund route, featured in the hit TV series Succession, which has become more accessible with the new Widerøe flight from Dublin.
The Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway
Norway has proportionally more EVs on the road than anywhere else in Europe with an extensive system of public charge points. As steep mountain roads and cold temperatures can drain batteries, it’s important to plan charging ahead. However, there’s no need to worry about these details if you book a six-day, all-inclusive driving experience in a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo with experiential travel company 62ºNord. The itinerary follows a route inspired by the Roy family along the scenic roads of the Sunnmøre Alps, then through the fjords (by helicopter) and along the dramatic Atlantic Road, with Succession-worthy stays in gorgeous gourmet hotels including Storfjord Hotel and the recently refurbished Hotel Union Øye. It costs NOK 82,800, about €7,437 per person. www.62.no.
The infinity pool at The Phoenicia Hotel overlooks the harbour at Valletta, Malta.
On my electric driving list is a gentle driving tour of Malta, from Valletta to Gozo (via ferry), exploring these elegant cities built by the Knights of St John, with their warrens of medieval streets and impeccably preserved prehistoric sites. There is a healthy spread of charge points throughout Malta, but most are slower 22kW types, so extra time may be needed for charging. EVs can enter Valletta without paying the city’s emission charge. Irish beauty therapist Elaine Butler-Doolin is a frequent visitor to the city and recommends The Phoenicia Hotel. “It’s steeped in history – and is where the late Queen Elizabeth stayed when Prince Philip was stationed in Malta. The seven acres of gardens are magnificent as is the outdoor infinity pool, overlooking the harbour,” she says. Summer overnight stays start at €398. www.phoeniciamalta.com.
The view from Monastero Santa Rosa, Naples.
More of a white-knuckle drive is the route along Italy’s Amalfi coast, which offers spectacular views and good recharging options – for both driver and car. There are plenty of gorgeous places to take a break. I recommend Vietri Sul Mare, a bit of a hidden gem, as a base. Proximity to Salerno and the motorway make it easily accessible. Rental EVs are available at Naples airport, including (classic car alert!) a Fiat 500 Jolly, converted into what’s known as the “Icon-e”, at Hertz. Stay at the 17th-century Monastero Santa Rosa. This 20-bedroom boutique hotel has an infinity poolat the edge of a cliff, while other treats include its Michelin-starred restaurant, Il Refetorio; private cookery classes in a lemon grove can be arranged. Overnight rates start from €600. www.monasterosantarosa.com.
Penny at the Vee Pass, Co Tipperary, with the Polestar 2.
Picking up a pristine Polestar 2 at Cork Airport, I followed a leisurely route through three counties: Cork, Tipperary and Waterford. This took in the Vee Pass, Clogheen, Tipperary, which rises to 610m above Bay Lough – the perfect backdrop for a picnic lunch with views across the valley from Clonmel and even Cashel. Continuing this scenic mountain drive, I stopped off in Lismore (to see the exhibitions at Lismore Castle Arts) as well as Mount Melleray Abbey (where the Cloisters Tea Rooms are open from Tuesday to Sunday). There was no range anxiety (406 miles for a single charge/motor) and the drive was smooth and seamless. Polestar, a sister company to Volvo, plans to create a truly climate-neutral production car without offsetting by 2030. A fitting finale was a stay in the designforward Cliff Beach House, overlooking Ardmore Bay. Watching June’s Strawberry Moon rise from the beach house terrace was just one of the sensory highlights of the trip.
