Le Mans in an EV

[sahajesh]

I expect I’ll be in an EV (non-Tesla) by the time LM 23 comes round.

Any tips on charging locations both en-route and in LM itself?

I saw the thread/WhatsApp on this year’s EV issues, so I’m keen to avoid those!!

Thanks.

[delta0]

I did it this year in an EV. I have a Tesla so could access Tesla chargers all the way however some of those are open to non Teslas. Somme has a good set of Tesla and non Tesla chargers. It’s a nice place to stop for a while. There is also 2 sets of Le Mans chargers. I believe the St Saturnin ones are open to all.

Edited by delta0 on Saturday 29th October 12:22

[sahajesh]

Agree, Somme has to be one of the nicest services I have ever been to!

Cheers for the info.

[RobbyJ]

I've done it twice now in the Tesla and have done much longer Euro trips. Use ABRB and plan ahead, Eurotunnel has chargers and open Tesla chargers on the way out. Somme services has Ionity:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/IONITY+Charging+...

Not sure about Rouen though, you'd need to check and make sure you have a backup plan if you need to charge there (the Tesla chargers in Rouen aren't currently open to all).

LM has the big open V3 Tesla site you can use.

All in all it's straight forward, just make sure you have a plan for Rouen if you need to charge there. What EV will it be?

[sahajesh]

RobbyJ said:

I've done it twice now in the Tesla and have done much longer Euro trips. Use ABRB and plan ahead, Eurotunnel has chargers and open Tesla chargers on the way out. Somme services has Ionity:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/IONITY+Charging+...

Not sure about Rouen though, you'd need to check and make sure you have a backup plan if you need to charge there (the Tesla chargers in Rouen aren't currently open to all).

LM has the big open V3 Tesla site you can use.

All in all it's straight forward, just make sure you have a plan for Rouen if you need to charge there. What EV will it be?

Cheers for that! Probably an iX which will come with an Ionity card of some type.

[RobbyJ]

If it's an iX 50 it will easily make it from Somme to LM in one hit at the speed limit or a bit above on an 80-90% charge.

[sahajesh]

RobbyJ said:

If it's an iX 50 it will easily make it from Somme to LM in one hit at the speed limit or a bit above on an 80-90% charge.

Yep it would be the iX50 - good info thanks.

[paulyv]

Seems you can buy a 'green' entry ticket this year too.

[sahajesh]

I went for the iX3 in the end, so I’ll have a few more charge stops as a result.

[delta0]

sahajesh said:

I went for the iX3 in the end, so I’ll have a few more charge stops as a result.

France is very well setup for charging so you will have no issues.

[RobbyJ]

There’s also this big new ‘open’ supercharger near Rouen now too so a handy one for non Tesla owners on the way down.

[LayZ]

New Ionity just opened SE of Rouen at Val-de-Reuil which I used a couple of weeks ago too. Maybe a bit out of the way if you are going down the A28, but I normally avoid that on or runs to Charente due to the high toll cost.

[Vette_1978]

We've got a battery car coming with us this year. I've found a hotel near Rouen (just east of, as I can't go through due to the Crit Air sticker issue) which has a charging point. On the way back we're stopping in Calais for the night instead of Bolougne and have a hotel with bookable parking that includes an EV charger. Depends if you're stopping enroute, but there are hotels out there with charging points as well.

[Oneball]

Vette_1978 said:

We've got a battery car coming with us this year. I've found a hotel near Rouen (just east of, as I can't go through due to the Crit Air sticker issue) which has a charging point. On the way back we're stopping in Calais for the night instead of Bolougne and have a hotel with bookable parking that includes an EV charger. Depends if you're stopping enroute, but there are hotels out there with charging points as well.

What’s the crit air sticker issue? I’ve got one on my diesel Merc, you just apply and it comes in the post with the appropriate rating.

[RL17]

Might not be available for classic Corvette?

[Oneball]

RL17 said:

Might not be available for classic Corvette?

Ah, didnt read it properly, thought he was in the EV.

[Vette_1978]

Oneball said:

Ah, didnt read it properly, thought he was in the EV.

Oh god no, give me a V8 any day. So our drive down avoiding Rouen is easy enough, but the drive back to Calais is a bit more awkward. I'm looking at the ferry at Bac de la Bouille or the Pont de Brotonne. Will make a nice change as the tolls on the way back are so boring, especially with a sleeping co-driver.

[hunter 66]

Actually the drive down to the classic was a real highlight , fun and so many old cars ....all types , drive to Le Mans the year before half the fun as COVID restricted numbers . Have a Tesla but took the RS for this trip

[S600BSB]

Oneball said:

Vette_1978 said:

We've got a battery car coming with us this year. I've found a hotel near Rouen (just east of, as I can't go through due to the Crit Air sticker issue) which has a charging point. On the way back we're stopping in Calais for the night instead of Bolougne and have a hotel with bookable parking that includes an EV charger. Depends if you're stopping enroute, but there are hotels out there with charging points as well.

What’s the crit air sticker issue? I’ve got one on my diesel Merc, you just apply and it comes in the post with the appropriate rating.

Depends on the car and your rating I guess.

[sahajesh]

LayZ said:

New Ionity just opened SE of Rouen at Val-de-Reuil which I used a couple of weeks ago too. Maybe a bit out of the way if you are going down the A28, but I normally avoid that on or runs to Charente due to the high toll cost.

Just looked at the location - it's not too much of a detour if going through Rouen anyway.

I'll be driving down overnight Friday (arrive Calais approx. 1am 10 June) so as much as it pains me, using autoroutes is probably better compared to smaller roads, as the former will have more service areas.

I can do the route using all Ionity as follows:

Coquelles (if needed)
Aire de la Baie de Somme
Val de Reuil
Villaines la Gonais

Long-winded but doable.

I'd likely do the following:

Ionity Coquelles (if needed)
Ionity Aire de la Baie de Somme
Tesla Bourg-Achard
Tesla St Saturnin

Worst case, the car/various apps will bring up additional suggestions, especially between B-A and St Saturnin.

Edited by sahajesh on Wednesday 24th May 14:51