North Coast 500 EV Charging Guide UK 2025: Highlands Route Plan

The North Coast 500 (NC500) is 516 miles of single-track roads, wind, and sparse charging. With a clear plan, any 200+ mile EV can do it stress-free. This guide gives 5-day, 7-day, and 3-day routes, backup chargers, winter allowances, hotel chargers, etiquette, and bad-weather contingencies.

Network Snapshot (Q4 2025)

• 70+ rapid or ultra-rapid chargers on or near the route; strongest around Inverness, Wick, Ullapool.
• Coverage: Gridserve, Osprey, ChargePlace Scotland (CPS), Shell Recharge.
• Expect 43?75kW in remote areas; a few 150kW near Inverness. Plan longer dwells on CPS single units.

5-Day Core Plan (Balanced)

Day 0 ? Inverness arrival

• Charge: Gridserve Inverness 150kW or Tesco Extra CPS 50kW.
• Stay: Kingsmills (7kW), AC by Marriott (CPS 22kW).

Day 1 ? Inverness to Wick (east coast)

• Tain ASDA CPS 50kW.
• Brora Harbour CPS 50kW if headwinds.
• Stay Wick: Mackays (Rolec 7kW) or Tesco CPS 50kW. Arrive 30?40 percent; charge to 90 percent overnight.

Day 2 ? Wick to John o'Groats to Thurso/Durness

• John o'Groats CPS 50kW (go early).
• Thurso Lidl CPS 50kW.
• Detour Dunnet Head? Add 20 miles.
• Stay Durness: limited rapids; book accommodation with 7kW (e.g., Sango Sands sockets?confirm).

Day 3 ? Durness to Ullapool (west coast)

• Scourie CPS 50kW (single unit?arrive early).
• Kylesku CPS 50kW (bathroom/photo).
• Stay Ullapool: Osprey 75kW at Tesco plus 7kW B&B points.

Day 4 ? Ullapool to Gairloch/Torridon

• Osprey 75kW Ullapool to about 85 percent before sparse section.
• Poolewe CPS 50kW.
• Kinlochewe Hotel CPS 50kW (for Torridon hikes).
• Stay Shieldaig/Kinlochewe with 7kW destination chargers.

Day 5 ? Torridon to Inverness (A832/A835)

• Achnasheen CPS 50kW.
• Beauly or Dingwall Osprey 75kW if detouring west.
• Finish at Inverness Gridserve for a final fast charge before heading south.

7-Day Scenic and Safe Variant

• Extra night in Thurso to explore Dunnet Head and Castletown.
• Add Lochinver stop (CPS 50kW) and Achiltibuie detour; start Day 3 earlier.
• Applecross via Bealach na Ba: start full at Kinlochewe or Shieldaig, keep above 40 percent; use Applecross 22kW if needed.

3-Day Express (Long-Range EVs 77kWh+)

• Day 1: Inverness to Wick to Thurso (overnight 7kW).
• Day 2: Thurso to Durness to Ullapool (Osprey 75kW plus hotel 7kW).
• Day 3: Ullapool to Kinlochewe to Inverness (top-up Achnasheen CPS if headwinds or heavy rain).

Backup Chargers by Section

• Inverness?Wick: Tain ASDA CPS, Brora CPS, Golspie CPS.
• Wick?Thurso: Wick Tesco CPS, John o'Groats CPS, Thurso Lidl CPS.
• Thurso?Durness: Tongue CPS (check status); carry 7kW backup at accommodation.
• Durness?Ullapool: Scourie CPS, Kylesku CPS.
• Ullapool?Torridon: Garve 75kW (off-route), Poolewe CPS, Kinlochewe CPS.
• Return: Achnasheen CPS, Beauly/Dingwall Osprey 75kW.

Weather and Consumption

• Add 15?25 percent buffer in winter; cold packs limit to 43?50kW.
• High winds or rain: add 10?15 percent consumption.
• Keep above 30 percent before remote legs (Durness to Ullapool, Kinlochewe to Inverness via single-track).
• Precondition battery when possible near rapids to improve charge rate.

Costs (Typical 2025)

• Rapids: 55?75p/kWh (Osprey/Gridserve); CPS often 35?45p/kWh.
• Destination 7kW: ?0??20 per night (many hotels include).
• Whole trip energy (60kWh EV, 5-day): around ?95??150 depending on weather and mix.

Booking, Apps, and Signal Strategy

• Apps: ChargePlace Scotland, Osprey, Gridserve; carry one RFID (Electroverse) for low-signal starts.
• Pre-authorise cards before leaving Inverness; CPS needs account setup.
• Check live status each morning; single-track closures can remove the only charger on that leg.
• Arrive early at single CPS sites; avoid arriving with under 15 percent if possible.

Accommodation with Chargers (Examples)

• Inverness: AC by Marriott (CPS 22kW), Kingsmills (7kW).
• Wick: Mackays (Rolec 7kW), Norseman (check sockets).
• Thurso: Premier Inn near CPS; several B&Bs with 7kW (call ahead).
• Ullapool: multiple 7kW B&B points; Osprey 75kW at Tesco for rapid.
• Torridon/Shieldaig: Kinlochewe Hotel CPS 50kW; Shieldaig several 7kW posts (phone first).
• Applecross: community 22kW (arrive early evening; slower but reliable).

Packing and Prep

• Type 2 cable for hotel 7kW; keep a cable lock if you leave it overnight.
• Offline maps; signal is patchy north of Dornoch.
• Windscreen washer topped up (midges and sea spray).
• Tyre pressures set for load; single-track roads punish under-inflation.
• Start full using an overnight smart tariff (see Smart EV Tariff Optimization).
• Read EV Road Trip Planning UK 2025 and UK Public Charging Networks Guide for wider strategy.

On-Route Etiquette (Keeps Queues Calm)

• Vacate rapid at 80?85 percent.
• Coil cables neatly; report faults in the app.
• In single-track car parks, leave space for others to pass the charger bay.
• Share RFID or app tips with tourists to reduce queue time.

Quick Troubleshooting on the Road

• Charger down: next town usually has CPS or Osprey; keep 20 percent buffer before committing to single-track detours.
• Blocked bay: use posted time limits; ask staff to announce; head to nearest alternative listed above.
• App fails: use RFID; in low signal some CPS units start after card pre-auth if already registered.

Real NC500 EV Experience

Priya, Manchester, Hyundai Ioniq 5 (77kWh), Sept 2025: followed 5-day loop; Tain, Wick, John o'Groats, Thurso, Ullapool, Kinlochewe. Used hotel 7kW twice due to winds. Spent ?112 on energy, never below 18 percent, about 18 percent range loss in heavy rain; CPS reliable early mornings.

Mini FAQ

Is the NC500 doable in winter?
Yes?add 25 percent buffer, expect slower 43?50kW in cold packs, keep above 30 percent on remote legs.

Do I need a CPS RFID card?
Highly recommended; app signal is patchy. Order before the trip.

Can I tow a caravan?
Yes, but range drops 40?60 percent. Use sites with 7kW hookups and shorten daily legs.

What if a charger is blocked?
Use posted time limits; ask staff; go to the nearest alternative. Avoid arriving under 15 percent.

Are there 150kW units?
Yes near Inverness (Gridserve) and some Osprey sites. Most rural stops are 50?75kW?plan dwell times.

Do I need cash?
Mostly contactless or app; carry one RFID and a backup card. Signal can be weak.

Can I rely on hotel chargers?
Call ahead; some are guest-only or need tokens. Arrive with 25?30 percent so you are not stranded if unavailable.

How low can I run the battery on single-track sections?
Keep above 25?30 percent to handle weather or closures; few safe turnarounds with power options.

Energy Budget Examples (60kWh EV)

• Summer calm: 3.1 mi/kWh, full loop ~170kWh -> ?95??120 depending on tariff mix.
• Autumn windy/rain: 2.6 mi/kWh, full loop ~200kWh -> ?110??150.
• Winter cold/windy: 2.2 mi/kWh, full loop ~230kWh -> ?130??170 if using more rapids.

Weather or Road Closure Contingencies

• If a single-track section closes, loop back to the nearest town with multiple networks (Inverness, Wick, Thurso, Ullapool).
• Keep a printed list of CPS sites; some areas have poor data signal.
• If winds exceed forecast, top up to 85?90 percent before exposed coastal stretches.

Toolkit for the Highlands

• Type 2 cable and RFID; backup payment card.
• Head torch and gloves for night or bad weather plug-ins.
• Tyre inflator and sealant; single-track verges can be sharp.
• Window squeegee and washer fluid for midges and salt spray.
• Compact first-aid kit and warm layer; weather shifts fast.

Driving and Charging Etiquette

• Give way on single-track passing places and do not block access to chargers when queueing.
• Charge to what you need plus buffer, not always 100 percent, to reduce waits.
• Share status updates in apps when safe; it helps other drivers plan.

Internal Links for Trip Planning

• Tariff prep: /post/smart-ev-tariff-optimization-complete-uk-guide-2025
• Road trip basics: /post/ev-road-trip-planning-uk-charging-guide-2025
• Network comparison: /post/uk-public-charging-networks-complete-guide-2025
• Motorway services: /post/motorway-ev-charging-uk-2025-complete-service-station-guide

More FAQ

What if a CPS unit will not start?
Check RFID and app status; try contactless if available; reboot app in airplane mode; call CPS helpline listed on the post.

Can I sleep in the car at chargers overnight?
Some sites prohibit overnight stays. Use hotel or campsite with 7kW; always follow site rules.

Do I need snow chains?
Rarely on NC500 main roads, but check weather; winter tyres are more useful than chains for most conditions.

Is mobile signal better on any network?
EE and Vodafone tend to be strongest, but coverage is patchy; plan for offline navigation.