Nov. 24, 2025
| Categories:
energy-transition,
policy-analysis,
ev-infrastructure,
european-energy-policy,
personal-war-stories
click here for Part 2
The next few days were uneventful. That is to say, I was finally on holiday and enjoying life without having to think about where to obtain the next electrons. I did, however, discover that the campsite where I was staying had a charger, and I took advantage of it on my last day there. The only caveat was that it was an extremely slow one. I honestly just wanted to top up before making the drive north, but even though I was connected for over two hours, I only got a measly 50km out of it. I paid six euros since the campground charged by the hour and not by the kilowatt. I wondered if it was a fair price, but how could I know? Apparently, the different pricing mechanisms for electricity were as varied as the varieties of bacalhau in a typical Portuguese restaurant. Live and learn.
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Nov. 14, 2025
| Categories:
energy-transition,
ev-infrastructure,
european-energy-policy,
personal-war-stories
click here for Part 1
I woke up next morning in my tent with a distinct feeling that I was on holiday. A feeling that quickly dissipated when I poked my head out and realised that my car - which I'd been half expecting to be parked next to the tent - was not there.
It was Monday morning in September. The sun was shining brightly after the morning mist dissipated. A beautiful day, but I was dreading confronting the reality of the situation I was in.
Mindful of my friend's schedule, I asked him what time he could get me back to my stranded car, sitting in some random village 20km away. He said he'd be happy to take me there, but first he had to go for a surf in the morning. Couldn't blame him. After all, it wasn't his fault I'd got myself into this mess.
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Nov. 1, 2025
| Categories:
renewable-energy,
ev-infrastructure,
european-energy-policy,
personal-war-stories
I could barely see the incline in the road ahead. Glancing down on my navigation I saw that the magical lightning bold icon was just over that hill. The battery level indicator flashing red. “Vai!, one more hill, we can make it”, yelled out. Unfortunately, not today. The engine sputtered as the half ton EV ground to a halt….
Sounds like a film script? No, this is what happens when an EV dream trip through Portugal buts against reality. Welcome to a dreamy holiday trip turned to painful lesson.
The Libertarian goes Electric
So how did this happen. TLDR answer is charging, or lack thereof. But let's get to the whole story.
Portugal might not be that big, but you still need a car to get to all these places since the public transport system isn't that developed outside Lisbon and Porto. So, like most holidaymakers in Portugal, I decided to rent a car. Outside of high season, it can be a very good deal. Having lived in the Lisbon region for a few years, I'd long wanted to explore
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