Electric Car Road Trip to Rab (Croatia): 650km, Real Cost, Charging & Honest Experience
We recently took an electric car road trip from Slovenia to Rab Island in Croatia
— with two kids, a dog, and a lot of curiosity about how practical EV travel really is.
Electric road trips sound simple and cheap… but the reality is a bit more interesting.
Here’s our honest experience — including costs, charging challenges, range anxiety, and
whether we’d do it again.
Table of Contents
Our Route & Distance
We started in Maribor (Slovenia) with battery at 95% and drove towards Croatia with a planned charging stop.
Outbound route:
- Maribor → Karlovac (charging + groceries)
- Ferry: Stinica → Rab Island
Return route: - Lopar (Rab) → ferry to Krk
- Krk → Maribor
Total distance: ~650 km, including driving around Rab.
Real cost Breakdown (With and Without Solar)
Here’s a clear breakdown of what this electric car road trip actually cost us:
- Charging at home (solar panels): €0
- Charging on the way (Lidl Karlovac): €12.26
- Charging on Rab: €2.54
- Extra charging on Rab (free charger): €0
Total electricity cost: €14.80
For comparison: Diesel for the same trip ≈ €70–100
Without solar and free charger on Rab, this would be around 30-50€, depending on charger prices.
That’s still cheaper than most diesel or Petrol cars – but difference depends heavily on where you charge.
Range Anxiety on an Electric Car Road Trip to Croatia(The Real Story)
Range anxiety is something every EV driver hears about – and honestly, it’s real.
When we arrived at our campsite on Rab, we had around 47% battery — comfortable… or
so we thought.
The campsite charger didn’t work. At all.
Later, we were driving with:
- 7% battery
- about 23 km range left
Range anxiety is definitely real — even if you technically still have enough.
Charging on Rab Island
Charging infrastructure on Rab is limited:
- Few chargers
- Often occupied
- Not always reliable
We eventually found one — and it was completly free, which felt like a big win.
We found another one on the last day, before boarding a ferry to Krk island.
The “No Charging” Experiment (Return Trip)
On the way back, we tried something different — no charging at all.
We started with 94% battery and arrived home with 7% remaining.
That means the full return leg was completed on a single charge and we could still do around 20km extra.
Traveling with Kids (and a Dog)
This wasn’t just an EV test – it was a real family trip with two kids and our dog.
- Charging stops became natural breaks
- Kids get time to move
- Dog gets walks
- Less rushing
The journey felt more relaxed and enjoyable.
What nobody thells you about EV travel
Electric car road trips sound simple – charge, drive, repeat. But in reality, there are a few things nobody really talks about.
- You WILL think about charging more than fuel
- You plan stops more carefully
- Chargers aren’t always working (we had one fail at 47%)
- Range anxiety is real… especially with kids.
- But… stops become breaks (food, walking, relaxing)
Pros of EV Travel
✔ Extremely low cost (€14.80 total)
✔ Quiet and comfortable drive
✔ Natural breaks for kids and dog
✔ Good range with planning
Cons
❌ Requires planning
❌ Charging can be unreliable
❌ Limited infrastructure
❌ Range anxiety exists
Final Verdict
Yes — we would do it again.
EV travel isn’t perfect, but it’s absolutely doable — even with kids and a dog.
Electric road trips are not perfect – but they’re not as complicated as people think either.
They’re just… different.
And once you adapt, they can actually become part of experience – not just a way to get from A to B.
If you enjoy budget-friendly family travel, check more tips here – rok travel dad.
FAQ
Is an electric car road trip to Rab doable?
Yes — with planning.
How long did charging take?
Around 3 hours total, but no charging on the way back (94%-7%).
How much did it cost?
€14.80.
Is it cheaper than diesel?
Yes – bute mainly if you charge at home or cheap stations.
Is range anxiety real?
Yes, but manageable.
Can you do it without charging?
Yes — we did on return (94% → 7%).
