10 things to do while charging
Let’s be honest: no matter how you look at it, charging electric cars still takes longer than a pit stop at the petrol station. But cheer up, charging technology is developing very quickly. Some vehicle models can already be charged almost completely within 20-60 minutes, and upcoming charging stations will reduce the charging time even further. But we’re not there yet – fortunately – because we’ve put together 10 things you can do to pass the time while charging.
1. Go for a coffee
If you’re always tired, you can take the opportunity to go for a coffee. The charging infrastructure in Germany is now well developed and public charging stations can be found everywhere, especially in cities. The next café is never far away and who knows – you might just discover your new favourite café by chance.
2. Call your parents/grandparents
When was the last time you called your parents/grandparents without a reason? The charging break is a great opportunity to do things that are often forgotten during everyday life. And at the same time, you can give your family an unexpected treat.
3. Go shopping
There are now charging stations in front of many supermarkets, often even in their own car parks. Why not kill two birds with one stone and use your weekly shopping trip to take some electricity with you?
4. Take a power nap
Those who long to slow down can use the charging break to take a long nap. Simply recline your seat and doze off. Those with more of a short stop in mind can also practise power napping and briefly close their eyes. But don’t overdo it; blankets and pillows do take up a lot of space in the car in the long run.
5. Call old friends
If you have already tried suggestions 1-4 and the battery is still not full, take a look at your contact list. You’re bound to find one or two people with whom you’ve had good times but for some reason hardly keep in touch any more. Now would be a good time to get in touch and rekindle your old friendships.
6. Clean out your eMails
Not exactly fun but certainly a very meaningful activity is cleaning out your eMail inbox. Steel yourself and banish newsletters, order confirmations and advertisements to the trash. Reply to your pen pals and sort your messages into their respective folders. You will see that in the end you will feel a lot lighter.
7. Short meditation
Nothing to do? Then do the same as your car and recharge your batteries. There are many short meditations that you can do anytime and anywhere. With the Body Scan, for example, you shift your attention inwards and delve into each part of your body in turn. From the little toe, to the thighs, to the stomach and oesophagus, to the nose, lips and earlobes. Feel how the body part is doing right now. Can you feel the seat underneath you? Do you feel any pain? Is the body part (too) warm or (too) cold? After the exercise you will feel more relaxed and can continue your journey with renewed energy.
8. Making doctor’s appointments
One of the things you never get around to is making doctor’s appointments. You don’t think about it during the day and when you remember during the evening, the surgery is already closed. So pass the time by having a nice chat with the receptionist.
9. Check out holiday bargains
You still have a few days’ holiday left and would like to go on an adventure? Then take a bit of time to browse through holiday sites. If you check when the prices are cheapest and plan your holiday accordingly, you might be able to score a real bargain.
10. Play Gameboy
Maybe you still have an old Gameboy, Nintendo or other portable game console at home. From now on, you should keep the good stuff in your car, then every charging break will be the absolute highlight of your day.
Tesla drivers are lucky. Entertainment is already pre-programmed in those cars. Using the car’s integrated infotainment system Tesla Arcade, you can pass the time with various games and, for example, use the steering wheel and brakes of the Tesla to steer the racing car in Beach Buggy Racing 2 .
