Planning a long EV journey can feel a little different from planning a traditional road trip. While modern electric vehicles can comfortably handle long-distance driving, knowing where and when you can charge along the way can make your journey much easier.
The good news is that a little preparation goes a long way. Before setting off on a long EV journey, it’s worth checking your battery level, planning your route and identifying suitable charging stops. Tools such as Zapmap make it easy to find EV chargers along your route, compare charging options and see what other drivers have said about individual locations.
Here are seven things worth checking before you set off on your next long EV journey.
1. Check your EV battery level before you leave
It might sound obvious, but checking your battery before starting a long journey is one of the simplest ways to avoid unnecessary stops.
Think about how much range you realistically have rather than relying solely on the vehicle’s estimated range. Factors such as your speed, traffic, temperature, weather and the type of roads you’re driving on can all affect how far you can actually travel.
If you’re leaving home with a low battery, consider charging before you start your journey. Starting with a good level of charge gives you more flexibility if you encounter traffic, a diversion or an unexpectedly busy charging station.
It’s also sensible not to plan your journey around arriving at a charger with only a few miles of range remaining. Leaving yourself some additional range can make the journey considerably less stressful.
2. Plan your EV charging stops
When planning a long EV journey, it’s worth deciding roughly where you’ll charge before you set off.
You don’t necessarily need to plan every stop down to the minute, but knowing where you’re likely to charge gives you a useful backup if your plans change.
Zapmap is a particularly useful tool for this. You can use it to find charging stations along your route and see information about the chargers available at different locations.
It’s worth looking at your route before leaving and identifying a couple of potential charging stops. That way, if your first choice is busy or unavailable, you already know where you can head next.
And if your journey takes you past one of our locations, don’t forget to consider Tap Zap Go for your charging stop.
3. Look at charging speeds
Not every EV charger will charge your car at the same rate, so it’s important to consider charging speed when planning a long EV journey.
A slower charger can be perfectly suitable if you’re stopping for a longer period, but if you’re looking to get back on the road quickly, a rapid charger can make much more sense.
Tap Zap Go’s locations offer up to 120kW EV charging, giving drivers the opportunity to add a significant amount of charge during a relatively short stop, depending on their vehicle’s capabilities.
Our current charging rate is also 49p per kWh, providing a competitive option for drivers travelling through our locations.
4. Check charging costs
It’s always worth checking the cost of charging before you start a session. Prices can vary between charging networks and individual locations, so knowing what you’ll pay can help you budget for your journey.
If you’re passing through Strood in Medway, Lambourn Woodlands near Membury Services, or Castleford in West Yorkshire, you can stop at Tap Zap Go for 120kW charging at 49p per kWh.
Our three locations are:
Strood, Medway
Whitewall Centre, Whitewall Road, Medway City Estate, Strood, Kent, ME2 4DZ
Lambourn Woodlands, Hungerford
Beside Westbound Membury Services, Lambourn Woodlands, Hungerford, RG17 7TJ
Castleford, West Yorkshire
Willowbridge Lane, Castleford, WF10 5NW
If one of these locations falls naturally along your route, it could be a convenient place to stop, charge and continue your journey.
5. Have a backup charging option
Even with careful planning, things don’t always go according to plan.
A charger might be occupied when you arrive, a station could temporarily be unavailable, or you might use more energy than expected because of traffic or weather conditions.
That’s why it’s a good idea to have a backup option in mind when planning a long EV journey.
Before setting off, check the charging stations around your planned route rather than relying on just one location. Zapmap can be particularly helpful for this, allowing you to see other charging options if you need to change your plans.
Having a second option in mind means you don’t have to start searching for a charger when your battery is already getting low.
6. Think about what you’ll do while charging
One of the easiest ways to make an EV journey feel more convenient is to think of charging as part of the journey rather than simply something you have to wait for.
Depending on where you stop, you could use the time to grab a coffee, have something to eat, stretch your legs or simply take a break from driving.
This is particularly useful on longer journeys. Rather than seeing a charging stop as lost time, use it as an opportunity to take a proper break before getting back behind the wheel.
After all, taking a short break during a long drive is never a bad idea.
7. Check in and leave a review on Zapmap
Once you’ve completed your journey, there’s one final thing you can do to help other EV drivers.
If you’ve used a Tap Zap Go charger, don’t forget to check in on Zapmap and leave us a review.
Reviews and check-ins can be really useful for people planning their own journeys. Sharing your experience gives other drivers an idea of what to expect when they arrive and helps them make more informed decisions about where to charge.
Whether you’ve used one of our chargers for a quick top-up or a longer charging stop, your feedback can help the next driver.
Planning a Long EV Journey? A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way
Planning a long EV journey doesn’t need to be complicated. Check your battery before leaving, use Zapmap to plan your charging stops, consider charging speeds and costs, and always have a backup option in mind.
And if you’re travelling through Strood, Lambourn Woodlands or Castleford, keep an eye out for Tap Zap Go. With up to 120kW charging and a current rate of 49p per kWh, our stations can provide a convenient option for topping up on your journey.
So before you set off, take a few minutes to plan your route, find your charging stops and check what options are available.
Plan ahead, charge up and enjoy the journey.
All information correct at the time of publishing on 28th August 2026.
