North Coast 500 gets rapid charging boost for Christmas
Scotland’s famous North Coast 500 driving route has received an EV boost in time for Christmas.
Scottish Power has confirmed the installation of brand new rapid chargers in Gairloch as it expands its EV charging network.
The new devices are Scottish Power’s most northerly chargers, located in the main car park beside the town’s Co-op supermarket. They will provide a convenient charging option for local residents and visitors taking on the famous NC500, as well as Scottish Power’s own Electric Tourist Trail, covering Skye, Mull, and Fort William.
To mark their installation, the chargepoint operator is offering a discounted tariff of 39/kWh from now until the end of March 2026, with payment options including the ScottishPower Recharge App, contactless payment, RFID cards, and e-mobility service providers such as All Star, Electroverse, Gireve, OVO Charge, and Zap-Pay.
To celebrate the launch, ScottishPower partnered with Gairloch Primary School , inviting pupils to name the chargers. The initiative aims to involve the local community and inspire young people to think about sustainability and the future of transport. The winning names will be revealed when the chargers go live later this month.
Andrew Ward, CEO of ScottishPower’s customer business, said: “Bringing EV charging to Gairloch is about more than infrastructure – it’s about connecting communities and inspiring the next generation. Partnering with Gairloch Primary School to name the chargers is a great way to involve young people in Scotland’s journey to net zero.
“At ScottishPower, we’re committed to expanding EV infrastructure across the UK, helping accelerate the transition to cleaner transport and ensuring that even the most remote communities are part of the journey toward a greener future.”
The announcement comes as Scotland’s public EV charging network experiences rapid growth. According to the latest government figures, there are now more than 7,300 public charging devices across Scotland – a 22.5% increase in the past year – forming part of a UK-wide surge that sees a new charger added every 33 minutes.
