The Octopus electric roadshow through Europe

Our Octopus team weren't alone on this adventure. Joining us was an eclectic mix of Octopus customers and special guests, each bringing their own unique perspective on EVs and energy.

Mick, the creator of Energy Stats UK, came along to crunch the numbers and see just how efficient this trip would be. We also had artist and activist Elijah as well as Sarah, (better known as ‘Sarah Go Green’ on X) , who introduced us to her trusty EV named Dennis. She was on a mission to see if she could complete the entire trip to Berlin and back on just six charges. Spoiler: she got pretty close.

Long trips don’t have to be a race. One of the best parts of EV travel is the opportunity to slow down and enjoy the ride (unless you're Mick - who took the competition of getting to the hotel first very seriously!)

We hit the road with no meticulous charging plan, and no worries about where we’d find power—something that would’ve been unthinkable just a few years ago. Instead, we had the Electroverse, Octopus Energy’s universal charging network, giving us easy access to chargers across Europe. Our only plan was to drive, explore, and let the road unfold before us.

Driving through France, Belgium, and Germany, we quickly learned that road-tripping in an EV isn’t just about getting from A to B—it’s about the journey itself. At one of our charging stops, we found ourselves at a picturesque beach, sipping coffee and playing volleyball while the vans topped up. Another stop led us to an old coal mine that had been transformed into a butterfly garden—proof that the world is changing for the better. These were the kinds of places you’d never notice if you were rushing from one ugly petrol station to another, on the side of the highway.

For some of our guests, this was their first time driving an EV in Europe. They expected a challenge – endless searching for chargers, long waits – but the reality was far easier than they had imagined. “Honestly, when they said about doing a road trip in an electric car to Europe, I thought, ‘No way, that feels impossible. But it’s just been easy,” one of the group admitted.

The technology made everything seamless. Electroverse showed us the fastest 350kWh chargers along the way, meaning we barely had time to stretch our legs before we were ready to hit the road again.

One of the trip’s biggest surprises? How cheap EV travel is. We tested a variety of cars, from luxury performance BMW’s to Sarah’s tiny but mighty electric Volks Wagen. The fleet only needed an average of five charges each way, and even the most energy-hungry car didn’t spend more than £200 on charging (that's less than a petrol car would have been). Meanwhile, the most efficient vehicle made it to Berlin and back for just £120 – and if we had all been charging at home on the Intelligent Octopus Go tariff, it would have been even cheaper!

After 2,000 kilometers, 5 different countries, and more than a few roadside adventures, we arrived at the Berlin Energy Tech Summit, proving that EV’s aren’t some futuristic fantasy: they’re here, they work, and they make road-tripping more fun than ever. This trip wasn’t just about getting to a destination. It was about proving that road trips, adventure, and everyday travel are better when they’re electric.

And if you’re wondering whether to make the switch – well, 93% of EV drivers say they’d never go back to petrol. We know we wouldn’t.