EV road trips from Zarqa: Aqaba, the Dead Sea and the north

Approximate distances from Zarqa

Distances are approximate and depend on where in Zarqa you start and which route you take. Check them in your maps app before you set off, and remember that a round trip doubles the figure.

Why height matters

Zarqa sits at about 600 metres above sea level, and parts of Amman are higher still, while the Dead Sea shore is the lowest point on land, at about 430 metres below sea level. Aqaba is at sea level, but the Desert Highway climbs to more than 1,000 metres in its southern section before dropping steeply towards the city.

Worked example: lifting a car weighing about two tonnes by 1,000 vertical metres takes, in theory, about 5.5 kWh, before air resistance and losses. On the way down, regenerative braking recovers part of that energy, not all of it.

The Dead Sea: an easy descent and a demanding climb back

On the way down to the Dead Sea, consumption is very low, and you may even see the battery level hold steady or rise slightly on some stretches thanks to regenerative braking. Do not base your return on what you saw on the way down. The way back is a climb of more than 1,000 metres, consumption is much higher than on the way down, and the Dead Sea is hot for most of the year, so the air conditioning works harder.

• Leave Zarqa with enough charge for the round trip plus a clear margin, or plan a charge at your destination.
• On the way back, watch consumption on the long climb and slow down if the battery is dropping faster than you expected.

Aqaba: the longest trip, and it needs a second stop

About 350 km each way, mostly at high speed on the Desert Highway, with climbs, sometimes wind and, in summer, heat. With most electric cars a single charge will not cover this trip comfortably, so plan at least one more charging stop on the way or at your destination.

• Before you leave, pick that second stop and a backup, and check that it is working, that its opening hours suit you and that its connector matches your car. The guide to finding charging stations in Jordan explains how to check.
• Driving at 100 km/h instead of 120 noticeably extends your range on this road.
• Coming back from Aqaba you climb from sea level up to the plateau, so charge enough there for the climb.

Jerash, Irbid and the airport

These are fairly short trips, and most electric cars can go and come back without charging if they leave with a well-charged battery. The roads to Jerash and Ajloun and parts of the Irbid road have climbs that raise consumption a little. If you are leaving your car at the airport for a few days, leave it with a comfortable charge for the drive home, since the battery loses a little while parked and some of the car's systems stay awake.

A simple plan before any trip

1. Charge before you leave. For long trips charge to 80% or more; charging to 100% before a long trip is fine if your manufacturer allows it.
2. Work out the full distance there and back, and add a margin of at least 20%.
3. Pick a second stop and a backup before you set off, not on the road.
4. Know your car's inlet: GB/T (the "Chinese" connector) or CCS2 (the "European" connector). See the EV charger types guide.
5. Precondition the battery before your second stop if your car supports it.
6. Watch consumption in kWh per 100 km, not just the remaining-range figure. Read how far an electric car really goes.

In summer and winter

In summer the air conditioning uses more energy, and your second charge may be a little slower after a long drive because the battery is hot. In winter the session starts more slowly if the battery is cold. Details in charging in summer and winter.

Leave Zarqa with a full battery

The best start to any trip is a charged battery. FAST RANGE is on Army Street in Zarqa, opposite Prince Hashem Military Hospital, near the old Zarqa bus complex and the Civil Status Department. To see how long your car will need on the charger, read how long it takes to charge an electric car.