Silently cruise around the hills
This text is written by frequent guests of Rocca di Sotto from Germany:
We want to provide the guests of Rocca di Sotto with a quick guide for everyone who’s
thinking about visiting Rocca di Sotto with a battery electric vehicle for the first time. To give
some background information, we have been here most years since 2019, and now, in 2024,
the first time with a BEV (2022 VW ID.4, 77 kWh). We got to like the EV way of travel in
2023, when we went to Southern Portugal via Madrid, then back again via Porto. So this
guide should help you decide if it is the right choice for you to come here with a BEV.
To shorten things a little, as of late 2024, it is absolutely possible and indeed quite easy to
get around here, while enjoying the stay and visiting all the places you want to see! The
same time, it’s the most amazing driving experience to just silently cruise around the hills
and mountains, with no effort at all, while being, apart from walking, biking and train travel,
the most sustainable option to get to Rocca di Sotto.
1. Arrival from Northern Italy
The journey to Rocca di Sotto is most comfortable, as there are enough fast charging
stations on the autostrada leading here. If you live more than 800 to 1.000 km away, plan a
stay for a night somewhere in between, e.g., Bolzano, Bologna…
It is easily possible to only use Ionity, which has a charging station with multiple reliable
charging points every about 200 km, but you have to exit the autostrada each time. On the
plus side, they usually lie right next to a shopping center and restaurants.
More in the south, there’re also the Free To X charging stations right on the usual autostrada
pit stops, which are also very reliable and fast.
Be aware that sometimes the DC plugs in Italy, as in Spain and Portugal, are a little bit too
small, which causes issues with the connection. To solve the problem, make sure to hold the
plug manually in case it wiggles a bit when plugged in, just until the actual charging process
starts. Then it can be left alone.
To get some groceries on the way while charging the last time before arrival, there’s a good
possibility only about 70 km away from Rocca di Sotto: IONITY Charging Station
2. Charging cards and apps
We had no issues with the We Charge by Elli charging card and VW app, but some charging
stations are not shown in different charging apps, including the VW app. We’d recommend to
always have a charging card with you that is well accepted in Italy.
There’s also the Be Charge app which works fine, but the costs are relatively high (0,65 ct
per kWh for AC, in late 2024). But in case there’s some issue with your usual app, it’s a good
option. You may want to register beforehand with your credit card, just in case.
3. Energy consumption in the hills and mountains
Expect an energy consumption slightly below average while driving in the area, depending
on the outside temperature and the air conditioning setting. With many curves and speed
limits, the average driving speed is always less than 50 km/h.
First example: from Rocca di Sotto to the beach in Pineto, 50 km distance one way, from 550
m of elevation to roughly 0 m, consumption is 8 kWh per 100 km, and, on the way back to
Rocca di Sotto, it’s 20 kWh per 100 km, meaning the average consumption is 14 kWh per
100 km, or, in this case, also 14 kWh in total.
Second example: from Rocca di Sotto to the Osservatorio Astronomico d’Abruzzo at 2138 m
elevation, 50 km distance one way, consumption is 34 kWh per 100 km, then to Castel del
Monte, then to Penne, a nice town in the vicinity of Rocca di Sotto, average consumption for
the whole trip is 13 kWh per 100 km.
Keep in mind that the heavier the vehicle is, the more electricity it takes to go uphill, while
also regaining more on the way down. For comparison, the ID.4 weighs 2.1 t plus 200 kg
humans and stuff.
4. A selection of charging stations in the area
As of late 2024, the area does not provide the best of all charging infrastructures, but
considering the very small percentage of electrical vehicles here, it’s easy to find one that is
available. The only exception to this may be, in the case of towns like Chieti, a busy
morning, when ICE cars use a charging station as a parking slot.
Penne: the nearest and most useful charging station is in Penne, roughly 30 minutes from
Rocca di Sotto. There’re at least two slow (AC) charging stations, one of which is not on
Google Maps but in a good location to visit the city. Its location is next to the central bus
station, in the parking area below the Conad Supermarket. It’s a good idea to combine the
charging with some sightseeing of the town and a trip to the Bar Centrale. Link
Pineto: there’re at least two slow (AC) charging stations in Pineto, right next to the beach. It’s
obvious to combine the trip with an extended stay at the beach. Again, at least one is not in
Google Maps, but its location is right in the parking area given in the link below. Link
Citta Sant’Angelo: these are the only reliable fast (DC) charging stations we know of right now, in
total four fast charging points with 110 kW each (probably less when others use it at the
same time). Luckily, they’re in just the right location, on the way from Rocca di Sotto to the
beach of Pineto. Link
Atri: there’s one slow (AC) charging station in Atri. But be careful, there’re a lot of tiny one
way streets through the history part of the town to get there. The navigation system may be
mistaken with regard to the correct way. Link
Chieti: there’re a couple of slow charging stations in Chieti, but most are not in the best
location for tourists. The one that could be interesting, unfortunately, in a place that seems to
be most attractive for ICE vehicle owners to park at during busy market times in the morning.
We’d not rely on it. If you want to park your car, you can easily drive a little further to a big
parking lot , which, by some reason, does not provide a charging station. Link
Piani Selva (Castiglione Messer Raimondo): there’s one slow (AC) charging station near the Supermercato Coal Mirella SNC, which is, again, not on Google Maps. You’ll find it right next to the main street in the small
parking lot. It could mainly be useful in case of an emergency, because you don’t consume
any state of charge to get there (except for one or two hills in the beginning, but then you
only roll downhill with much recuperation), and with 20 minutes of driving, it’s the closest we
know of. With regard to the village itself, according to Willeke, there’s a place that offers the best cake in the whole area, it’s called Shortbread. Make sure to find it before leaving!
It could also serve as a stop on the way to or from the beach of Pineto, for coffee and groceries.
If you have troubles starting the charging process, download the app On Mobility, also available for iOS.
Link charging station
Direction of Ortona, Francavilla al Mare: there’s a fast (DC) charging station in the direction
of Ortona. It’s 90 kW and worked fine when we tested it. You can get some groceries while
charging, as the charging station is right next to a supermarket. Link
5. Final remarks
In total, we made the observation that, while an ICE vehicle has a very high consumption in
the hills and mountains (roughly 1,3 to 1,5 times the usual), an EV is just below its usual
average due to the slow speeds and the recuperation. This means that the range of the
vehicle types is much closer together than on the Autobahn in Germany, for example.
If you’re driving a BEV with a 50+ kWh battery, you’ll probably won’t use close to the total
capacity of the battery. The distances are short, even on whole day trips. 150 km is probably
the longest you’re able to drive in a single day, while still spending some time not driving,
considering the streets and terrain.
This means you can keep the state of charge below 80 to 90 % and, depending on the
model, make use of the full recuperation capacity downhill and in the curves.
So there’s no need to combine trips with charging stops all the time, but maybe once or twice
a week.
If you stay only a few days, charge to close to 100 % at the last stop on the autostrada. That
is, most probably, more than enough for the whole time.
Enjoy your stay at Rocca di Sotto and enjoy the beautiful nature!
