.png){kind=logo}
Father, Daughter and a Giraffe – Our 2015 EV Journey
On June 27th, 2015, we set off on a road trip from Harstad to Oslo to trade in our trusty blue Subaru for a black electric car. I hadn’t expected company, but our oldest daughter was eager to join dad on the adventure – and just like that, we were three: a dad, a daughter, and a giraffe. A perfect travel crew.
Choosing the Quiet Route
There are many ways to drive from Harstad to Oslo. This time, we chose a quieter and more scenic route: heading down the E6 to Junkerdalen, across to Arjeplog, and then onto a small local road leading to Slagnäs. There, we met up with the E45 and followed it south before turning back into Norway near Østby. It’s a route I’d driven many times before, both in passenger cars and heavy vehicles – and it’s known for low traffic and lots of nature.
Geocaching Along the Way
Traveling such a long distance with a young co-pilot meant more breaks – and we made the most of them by geocaching along the route. It’s a fun hobby, especially when you need to stretch your legs or take a proper pause from the drive. It also happens to be an ideal pastime for EV drivers: charging takes time, especially when you're driving an older Nissan Leaf. So having a little treasure hunt at each stop made the journey more fun.
Going Electric in 2015 – A Different Time
Back in 2015, Norway was still in the early days of electric driving. The fast-charging network was sparse, especially north of Trondheim. I briefly considered driving the electric car all the way home to Harstad – but quickly let go of that idea.
With some planning, we might have reached Steinkjer from Oslo using the chargers that were available, but beyond that, charging infrastructure was very limited. That trip would have taken a long time, likely with several overnight stops – and we just weren’t ready for that kind of journey yet.
Today, that same route would be much easier and faster in an EV. But that’s a story for another post.
Translations: Norsk
