NEWS: EV Charging At Sea! YES AT SEA!
Wake Up Fully Charged: The Ultimate Guide to Stena Line’s EV Charging on the Gothenburg-Kiel Route. Is It Worth It?
As first stage of an BEV Road Trip, I have just taken the Stena Line ferry, crossing the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Germany.
And for BEV owners, it just got a massive upgrade.
If you are planning to take your electric vehicle (EV) from Gothenburg to Kiel, Stena Line has introduced a service that allows you to charge while you sleep.
🚢 The Golden Rule: Choose the Right Ship
However, not all ships are created equal. Before you book, here is everything you need to know to ensure you don’t end up with a flat battery and a confused look at the ferry terminal.
The Gothenburg-Kiel route is served by two main vessels: the Stena Scandinavica and the Stena Germanica.
Currently (Nov 2025), Only the Stena Scandinavica offers guaranteed, bookable EV charging.
- Stena Scandinavica: Has a dedicated, modern EV charging facility that you can pre-book.
- Stena Germanica: While it may have some older legacy power points, they are generally not bookable and not guaranteed for public use. Do not rely on this ship for a charge.
🔌 The Tech Specs: What You Get
The service on the Stena Scandinavica is designed for overnight travelers. You aren’t looking for a Supercharger speed here; you’re looking for a slow, steady “trickle” that fills your battery while you enjoy the buffet and a good night’s sleep.
- Capacity: There are 3 charging stations serving a total of 6 vehicles.
- Power: These are standard 11kW Type 2 AC chargers.
- Cable: Bring your own Type 2 cable. While some ferries have tethered cables, it is industry standard to carry your own Mode 3 (Type 2 to Type 2) cable to ensure compatibility.
- Vehicle Size: The spots are strictly for cars up to 6m long and 2m high. (Sorry, Cybertrucks and oversized SUVs with roof boxes might need to double-check their dimensions!).
💰 How to Book (and How Much?)
You cannot simply drive on and hope for a spot. With a maximum of 6 spaces available per crossing, they sell out fast.
- Start your Booking: Go to the Stena Line website and select your route (Gothenburg – Kiel).
- Select Vehicle: Choose “Car” (ensuring it fits the dimensions).
- The “Extras” Stage: Proceed through the cabin selection until you reach the “Onboard Extras” page.
- Add Charging: Look for the “Battery Charge” or “EV Charging” option. If you don’t see it, the spaces are likely sold out, or you have selected the Stena Germanica.
- Cost: The price is a flat fee per car (in October, we paid 250skr approx. 25 euro).
- Note: Prices can vary by season, but it is generally a fixed add-on fee regardless of how much energy you consume. Think of it as “reserving the plug” rather than paying per kWh.
🚦 On the Day of Travel: A Checklist
To make the process smooth for the deck crew (and yourself), follow these steps:
Print Your Label: When you book the EV slot, you will often receive a specific indication label or instruction on your booking confirmation. Print this or have it clearly visible so port staff can direct you to the correct lane.
Arrive Early: You may need to board before other cars to get positioned near the chargers on the car deck.
Disable Sentry Mode/Alarms: Ferries vibrate. A lot. If you leave your car alarm or Tesla Sentry Mode active, it will go off, and you might return to a drained 12V battery or an angry announcement from the captain.
Plug In Immediately: Once parked, plug in your cable, lock the car, and ensure the “charging” light is pulsing green before you head upstairs.
⚡ The Verdict
Is It Worth It? If you have a BEV, this service is a no-brainer for the Gothenburg-Kiel route saving you a 30-50min Charging stop on the autobahn.
Rolling off the ferry in Germany (or Sweden) with 100% battery means you can skip the early morning rush at the port chargers and head straight onto the Autobahn fully charged.
The onboard staff were helpful and prepared, leaving us confident that the vehicle would be charged for the next stage of our journey.
Hopefully Stena Line will extend this service to other routes and other Ferry companies will also offer this service
Have you also used this service?
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