How many charging stops do I need from Istanbul to Ankara?

With a current car with 400 km or more of range, one DC stop is usually enough. Cars with less range, or winter conditions, call for planning two stops.

What if I have to queue at a charger?

It can happen on busy routes during holidays. Choosing stations with several connectors and picking a backup largely removes this risk.

Why is range lower on the motorway?

At a constant high speed, air resistance dominates. In the city some braking energy is recovered, so consumption is lower.

Long-distance driving in an EV: how to plan your charging stops

On a long trip the issue is not range, it is planning. With the right stops, Istanbul to Ankara takes only a coffee break longer than in a petrol car.

By: Şarj Rehberim · Updated: 21 October 2026 · 5 min read

Plan the stops, not the range

A car's catalogue range is measured in ideal conditions. At 120 km/h on the motorway, real range drops noticeably; in cold weather it drops further.

A practical approach: treat 70% of the catalogue range as usable and build your plan on that.

Stay between 10% and 80%

DC charging slows after 80%. Rather than waiting for 100% at one station, leaving at 80% and charging again at the next stop is faster overall.

Try not to drop below 10% either. You lose your safety margin, and at very low charge the car may limit power.

Pick a backup for every stop

The station in your plan may be busy, broken or closed. Pick an alternative 20–30 km further on for every stop.

Prefer stations with several connectors over small single-connector ones; you are less likely to queue.

Before you set off

Leave home at 100% — a long trip is the one case where 100% makes sense.
Check the connector type of the stations on your route; if your car is CCS2, CHAdeMO points are no use to you.
Download the apps of the networks you will use and sign up in advance. Trying to open an account at the charger wastes time.
Carry the cards of more than one network.
Check tyre pressure; on the motorway it directly affects consumption.

Slowing down really works

Air resistance grows with the square of speed. Driving at 105 instead of 120 km/h cuts consumption noticeably and often removes a charging stop altogether.

Once you do the journey-time maths, driving slower and skipping a stop usually means arriving earlier.

Frequently asked questions

How many charging stops do I need from Istanbul to Ankara?: With a current car with 400 km or more of range, one DC stop is usually enough. Cars with less range, or winter conditions, call for planning two stops.
What if I have to queue at a charger?: It can happen on busy routes during holidays. Choosing stations with several connectors and picking a backup largely removes this risk.
Why is range lower on the motorway?: At a constant high speed, air resistance dominates. In the city some braking energy is recovered, so consumption is lower.

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