Parking an electric car at Frankfurt Airport: range, charging & handover

Electric cars have long been part of everyday life in the Rhine-Main area – and more and more travellers drive electrically to Frankfurt Airport. For most, the distance is no problem. Still, there are questions that don’t arise with combustion cars: how much charge do I need for the drive home after a long-haul trip? What happens to the battery if the car stands for three weeks? Can I charge at the car park? And how do I hand over an EV to a valet driver? You will find the answers in this guide.

Range: the drive home is what counts

After a long-haul trip with a time difference, you don’t want to start by looking for a charging station. So calculate:

1. The distance there and back from home to the car park
2. A reserve of 20 to 30 percent for weather, detours and traffic at the Frankfurter Kreuz
3. Standby loss during the trip – a few percent, depending on the model and settings

In winter, range drops significantly due to cold and heating. If you return from the Caribbean in January, you get into a cold car with less range.

The right charge level for the parking period

Many manufacturers recommend a medium state of charge for longer parking periods. A full battery for weeks is not ideal, and neither is a very low one. You will find the recommendation for your model in the owner’s manual or app. Above all, though, you need enough reserve for the drive home. Several weeks of standing usually do no harm to a modern battery.

Minimising standby losses

• Switch off sentry and camera monitoring modes
• Deactivate scheduled pre-conditioning
• Limit app queries – every wake-up costs energy
• Unplug the dashcam and accessories from the vehicle’s electrical system
• Have the 12-volt battery checked before long trips

Charging on the way to the airport

There are numerous rapid chargers along the A3 and A5. At the start of the holidays, however, they can be busy, and waiting time upsets your schedule. It is better to charge at home the evening before or plan the charging stop with a generous buffer. At night, charging stations are usually less busy – handy for early flights. More in the guide Early flight from Frankfurt Airport.

Charging at the parking provider

Some providers at Frankfurt Airport offer EV charging as an add-on service. At Friend-Park you can see before booking which providers can do this and on what terms. Clarify:

• whether charging takes place right after arrival or shortly before your return,
• up to which charge level,
• whether your own charging cable is needed and where it is,
• how the costs are billed.

More about extras in the FAQ on add-on services. Compare providers: Find parking for your EV at Frankfurt Airport.

Valet parking with an EV

With valet parking at Frankfurt Airport, a driver from the provider drives your car. EVs differ greatly in how they are operated. To make the handover run smoothly:

1. Key: if you use your smartphone as a key, hand over a key card or physical key – never your phone.
2. Briefing: briefly explain starting, gear selection, parking brake and driving modes.
3. State of charge in the report: document it like the mileage, and also take a photo of the display.
4. Valet or service mode: use it if available – it protects personal data.
5. Photograph the charging flap and wheels: often delicate on EVs.

How valet parking generally works is explained in the guide How does valet parking in Frankfurt work?

Shuttle parking with an EV

With shuttle parking you usually park the car yourself. Check the charge level, switch off functions, lock it. Whether you need to hand over the key depends on the provider – more in the FAQ on keys.

Long parking periods on long-haul trips

Many people fly long-haul from Frankfurt and are away for three or four weeks. For EVs this means: a medium charge level, all power-hungry functions off, a 12-volt battery in good condition. More on preparation in the guide Preparing your car before your holiday and on long stays in the guide Long-term parking at Frankfurt Airport.

Winter and summer

In winter, range drops and a cold battery charges more slowly. Plan more reserve and, if possible, use pre-conditioning via the app after landing. In summer, high temperatures on open car parks put a little more strain on the battery; covered spaces are pleasant. You can see in the facilities whether a provider parks cars under cover.

After your return

When your car is returned, check the charge level and condition, compare them with the report and, if range is tight, start navigation to the nearest charging station. If you discover damage, raise it immediately – more in the FAQ on damage. The procedure is explained in the guide Returning: collecting your car at Frankfurt Airport.

Company cars with a plug

Many company fleets in the Rhine-Main area are electric. The same rules apply to business travellers. Also check whether charging costs at the provider can be billed to the company. Tips in the guide Parking for business trips at Frankfurt Airport.

Plug-in hybrids

With plug-in hybrids, the combustion engine provides a reserve. Fill up sufficiently before the trip and switch off standby functions.

Checklist

• Charge level for the drive home plus a 20–30% reserve
• Sentry mode, pre-conditioning and dashcam off
• 12-volt battery checked
• Key card ready for valet
• Charging booked as an add-on service if desired
• State of charge recorded in the report and with a photo

How much does the drive to the airport cost by EV?

For EV drivers, the energy costs of the drive to Frankfurt Airport are usually manageable, especially if you charge at home. Electricity at rapid chargers along the motorway is more expensive. For a fair comparison with the train or a taxi, add up the energy for the outward and return journey and the final price of the parking space including service fee. For families and groups in particular, an EV combined with an inexpensive parking space is often the cheapest solution. The guide How much does parking at Frankfurt Airport cost? gives an overview of parking prices.

Charging cables, charging cards and apps

Only leave charging cables in the car if the provider is to charge it. Valuable Type 2 cables are in demand; otherwise take them with you or stow them out of sight. Before driving home, check that your charging card or app works – after a long trip, contracts have sometimes expired or apps need updating. Save a charging station near the airport as a destination in case range gets tight.

Electric cars and Terminal 3

With the opening of Terminal 3, routes around the airport have changed. If you drive to the valet handover point at Terminal 3, allow for its own access road in the south. For EV drivers this means the distance may be slightly longer or shorter than to Terminal 1, depending on the direction you come from. Calculate your range with the actual destination from your booking confirmation.

Software updates while parked

Some electric cars download or automatically install software updates while parked. This can use energy and, in rare cases, mean the car is briefly not ready to drive after your return. If your manufacturer allows it, postpone scheduled updates until after the trip or install pending updates at home before you leave.

Pre-conditioning after landing

Many EVs can be pre-heated or cooled via an app. After landing in winter this is pleasant – but only if there is enough charge and the car has reception. With valet parking, check with the provider whether the vehicle is parked in a hall where switching on ventilation or heating is not a problem.

Charging overnight before an early flight

If you have a wallbox at home, it is best to charge to the desired level the night before departure. That way you set off without a stop and with full planning certainty. Set the charging target so that there is enough for the outward and return journey, without keeping the battery at one hundred percent for long.

Conclusion: well planned, electrically to the airport

Driving your EV to Frankfurt Airport is convenient and inexpensive. Plan your range for both directions, reduce standby losses and check whether the provider can charge. All offers are on the page Parking at Frankfurt Airport.