Our latest steps in EV charging
Here’s a snapshot of how we are working across our businesses – from charging to EV Fluids – so we can all get plugged into the EV revolution. Check back for regular updates
Latest news
bp powers its first Gigahub™ in New Zealand
bp opened its first Gigahub™ in the Southern Hemisphere, located at New Zealand’s Christchurch Airport. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was on hand to officially open the hub, which has 12 fast EV charge points.
bp charge – our EV charging brand in New Zealand – has been operating in the country since 2022 and has currently installed 190 EV charge points. Drivers can use the bp charge app to access real-time data on charger availability, pricing and speeds, while exploring the network of locations.
“Being next to Christchurch Airport, this Gigahub™ will serve all sorts of EV drivers, whether they’ve hired an EV for their holiday, are rideshare drivers, professionals, or Christchurch locals.”
Haley Mahone, bp New Zealand head of country
First stand-alone charging hub with smart convenience store for Aral pulse
Aral pulse has opened its first dedicated, large-scale charging hub in Germany, with enough bays to charge up 28 EVs at the same time.
Located in the city of Mönchengladbach, near a main autobahn, the charging hub includes 14 ultra-fast charging stations with an output of up to 400 killowatts that can provide up to 300 kilometres (186 miles) of range in 10 minutes, depending on the vehicle.
Also on the premises is a high-tech convenience store under the REWE To Go brand so drivers can pick up a hot drink and something to eat while their vehicle charges. The unmanned shop uses artificial intelligence, cameras and sensors to charge customers automatically and speed up service.
“Mönchengladbach is a milestone for our business and a blueprint for other sites in Europe. We’ve got plans for more combined hubs like this – this is only the beginning!”
Richard Bartlett, SVP, bp pulse
Jio-bp plugs in its 5,000th EV charging point in India
Jio-bp installed its 5,000th EV charging point in India in September. Over the past year, bp’s fuels and mobility joint venture with Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has nearly quadrupled its number of EV charge points in the country.
This latest milestone coincided with the inauguration of Jio-bp’s 500th EV charging station in India at the Jio World Centre in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai.
Jio-bp was the first provider in India to offer top-rated 480-kilowatt EV chargers.
bp CEO Murray Auchincloss and RIL director Anant Ambani were on hand to officially open the new site.
“We’re focusing on scale, speed and strategic locations to provide a seamless customer experience. By combining bp and Reliance Industries’ capabilities, we’re delivering EV charging with bp’s convenience, creating a unique value proposition for customers.”
Murray Auchincloss, bp CEO
New hub close to Stansted Airport
bp pulse has opened a new hub at Stansted retail site, conveniently located just a five-minute drive from Stansted Airport on the outskirts of London in the UK.
The new charging hub features three ultra-fast 300kW chargers that are each capable of charging two cars simultaneously, providing a total of six charging bays.
While waiting for their vehicle to charge, customers can enjoy on-site amenities, including bp’s Wildbean cafe and an M&S food store.
“The launch of this new charging hub is yet another step in our commitment to expanding our charging network and supporting the expansion of the UK’s EV infrastructure. The site’s close proximity to Stansted Airport makes it the ideal choice for travellers and taxi drivers who need a quick and convenient charge.”
Valerio Ferro, general manager at bp pulse UK
First M&S hub opens
bp pulse has opened its first EV charging hub at a Marks & Spencer (M&S) store as part of its exclusive agreement signed in 2022 to roll out EV charging across the UK with the brand.
The hub is located at the M&S in Cheshunt and features 10 EV charging bays – four ultra-fast 150kW and six rapid 50kW. One of the ultra-fast charging bays is extra-wide to ensure customers who need it have extra room to charge.
“Convenience is a hugely important part of our aim to develop the UK’s best on-the-go charging network, and this is a compelling example of how we’re offering fast and reliable EV charging where it is convenient for our customers.”
Akira Kirton, CEO at bp pulse UK
bp and M&S have a long-standing relationship, first teaming up in 2005 to introduce M&S Food stores at bp retail sites. More than 500 bp pulse charge points are already available at over 150 bp-operated forecourts across the UK, which also offer M&S Food.
Charge while you shop
bp pulse has signed a deal to roll out new ultra-fast Gigahubs™ at 75 locations in the US owned by Simon®, a real estate company that invests in shopping, dining, entertainment and other mixed-use centres.
The deal would add more than 900 charging bays that support nearly every make and model of EV on the market. The first locations are due to open to the public in early-2026.
The charging stations will be found via the Simon electric vehicle charging webpage, all major map platforms, and the bp pulse app. bp pulse’s proprietary energy management solution, Omega, will optimize energy usage on site.
“The Simon portfolio aligns with bp pulse’s strategy to deploy ultra-fast charging across the West Coast, East Coast, Sun Belt and Great Lakes, and we are thrilled to team up with Simon so that EV drivers have a range of retail offerings at their impressive destinations.”
Richard Bartlett, CEO, bp pulse
Network news
Aral pulse has opened its 20th electric truck charging station in Germany.
Open 24/7, the site has six charging bays for e-trucks, powered by three 300kW chargers, and is located just outside the Port of Hamburg – Germany’s busiest container port.
There are eight additional 300kW charging bays for cars, making it one of the largest charging sites in the Aral pulse network. Amenities onsite include a shop with catering for drivers, as well as toilets and showers.
“As Germany’s largest seaport, Hamburg is one of the most important trans-shipment points for goods. This makes it the ideal location to further expand our charging network for electric trucks and thus support logistics companies with an efficient charging infrastructure as they switch their fleets to electric.”
Alexander Junge, Aral board member for e-mobility
Aral pulse expects to grow its network of sites that offer electric charging for trucks to around 30 locations by the end of 2024.
Truck stop and go
The 21-acre site is located close to the UK’s busiest ferry port at Dover and the Eurotunnel, which 3.5 million heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers use to cross the Channel every year.
bp pulse plans to install a range of charging options suitable for on-the-go and overnight trucks, including state-of-the-art megawatt chargers (MCS), the first of which is expected to be installed from 2026.
“For fleet operators to consider going electric, they must be confident that the infrastructure is in place to support them. That is why we are thrilled to have secured the land to a crucial site near Dover as we strive to meet the evolving needs of HGV operators transitioning to EVs.”
Stefan von Dobschüetz, general manager, bp pulse Europe
The acquisition follows bp’s launch in January 2023 of Europe’s first truck charging corridor in Germany and is another step towards connecting that corridor to the UK to further encourage fleet operators to shift to electric.
Capital asset
bp pulse has opened its most powerful charging hub in Central London.
Located at Q-Park Pimlico in the Borough of Westminster, the hub features eight ultra-fast 150kW chargers, each capable of charging up to 100 miles of range in around 15 minutes.
The Gigahub™, where 16 electric vehicles can charge simultaneously, is the latest addition to bp pulse’s network in Greater London, where it operates more than 570 charge points, including approximately 50 ultra-fast chargers.
Two of the charging bays will be dedicated solely to Uber drivers, boosting the company’s partnership with bp.
As well as strengthening bp pulse’s presence in the capital – complementing its existing site in Park Lane – the new Gigahub™ follows two others opened in the UK this year, in Kettering, Northamptonshire, and at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.
The Pimlico Gigahub™ is also where the UK government recently marked the start of its ZEV (zero emission vehicle) mandate.
The Technology and Decarbonization Minister, Anthony Browne, visited the site alongside bp pulse VP Akira Kirton and Uber’s UK general manager, Andrew Brem.
It’s a big step for the UK’s EV transition, because:
- Starting this year, 22% of all new cars sold in the UK have to be zero emission and car manufacturers will pay a fine if they don’t meet these requirements.
- That number will rise each year until it reaches 80% by 2030.
New joint venture in Spain and Portugal
Iberdrola and bp have launched a joint venture that plans to invest €1 billion in high-speed public charging.
It intends to deploy 5,000 charge points by 2025, and 11,700 by 2030, powered by 100% renewable energy through the use of guarantee of origin certificates. bp has an extensive network of 1,300 service stations in Spain and Portugal, which it will use as charging hubs for the new company.
Drivers will be able to charge at secure stations and also have access to additional convenience services.
“This JV is going to be big for our customers in Spain and Portugal and I really believe this is the right move for both companies. Combining our capabilities into a new company with an entrepreneurial culture, backed by larger energy companies, will help us to become a true e-mobility market leader in these countries.”
Richard Bartlett, SVP, bp pulse
First-of-a-kind deal with Tesla
The deal represents the first time Tesla’s chargers will be installed on an independent EV charging network, with bp pulse sites also appearing on Tesla’s Supercharger network, in its app and in vehicle dashboard displays.
As early as 2024, the 350kW chargers will be installed across the bp pulse network for public charging and for private fleet depot customers.
Locations will include key bp, Amoco, ampm, and Thorntons-branded sites, TravelCenters of America locations, as well as high-demand sites, such as airports, and at bp pulse’s Gigahubs™ in major metropolitan areas across the US.
The chargers are expected to be fitted with Tesla’s ‘Magic Dock’, enabling EVs from all major vehicle manufacturers to charge, regardless of the type of connector they use.
“Strengthening the bp pulse network with Tesla’s industry-leading hardware is a major step forward in our ambitions for high-speed, open access charging infrastructure in the US and advances our ambition to delivering an exceptional customer experience.”
Richard Bartlett, SVP, bp pulse.
Big win for Aral pulse
Aral pulse has been named Germany’s number one charge point operator by Connect magazine.
Just three years after the business started, Aral pulse scored an impressive 868 points out of a possible 1,000 on criteria, including service, equipment reliability and customer offers.
“Understanding customer needs and delivering accordingly is hard work and takes a lot of extraordinary skills. I am proud that we have been able to show that the customer is at the centre of everything we do. This is a fantastic achievement.”
Stefan von Dobschüetz, general manager, bp pulse Europe
Aral pulse already has more than 1,700 EV charge points across Germany and aims to have 20,000 ultra-fast charge points in place by 2030.
Find out more about this latest win in this Aral press release.
Uber driver Charlie charges his EV at the bp pulse charging hub on Park Lane
Driving charging momentum with Uber
bp is taking another step towards helping ride-hailing giant Uber to meet its commitment to decarbonization.
The two companies have signed a new global mobility agreement that will see them work together to help accelerate Uber’s ambition to become a zero-tailpipe emissions mobility platform in the US, Canada and Europe by 2030, and globally by 2040.
Under the agreement, they will initially collaborate in key markets, including Europe, the US and the UK, to support Uber’s 2030 targets, with other countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, to follow. Plans include offering Uber drivers bespoke access to bp pulse’s high-speed charging network, as well as special offers.
Uber and bp pulse already work together on purpose-built charging hubs in London, including at Q Park on Park Lane (shown in the film above) and a new hub opened in Kentish Town.
Thousands of London EV drivers on Uber use bp pulse for their charging needs, currently averaging more than 2,500 charges per week across 1,000 different charge points per year. Drivers on Uber’s platform in Europe are switching to EVs five times faster than the general population, and the company aims for a 100% EV fleet in London by 2025.
bp pulse to enter the French market
bp pulse is teaming up with real estate firm Compagnie de Phalsbourg to establish a reliable and accessible EV charging infrastructure in France – the EU’s second-biggest EV market.
The two companies have signed an agreement to work together to open more than 25 new charging hubs across the country by 2025, marking the 10th country bp pulse will have entered.
The new EV hubs – which will be subject to lease agreements and planning consent – are likely to be located in shopping malls, on the outskirts of cities, and close to major highways. Plans include the installation of ultra-fast 300kW chargers capable of delivering up to 160km of range in around 15 minutes, depending on the vehicle. The hubs will also feature fast (>50kW and ultra-fast >150kW) charging points.
The first sites are expected to be operational before the end of 2023.
“We are delighted to work with such an innovative company as Compagnie de Phalsbourg to bring our compelling charging experience to the French market, and we look forward to contributing to the decarbonization of transport in France.”
Stefan von Dobschuetz, managing director of bp pulse Europe
The new EV charging hub in Kettering, UK
bp pulse opens its largest UK charging hub
bp pulse has opened its fastest, most powerful and largest EV charging hub in the North Northamptonshire town of Kettering. With an installed capacity of three megawatts (MW), the hub features ten 300kW chargers, one of the fastest available in the UK today.
The hub can charge up to 20 cars simultaneously at 150kW, allowing each to gain approximately 100 miles of range in around 15 minutes, depending on the vehicle – enough to easily power a journey from Kettering to London.
With other established Gigahubs™ in Park Lane, London, and at Gatwick Airport, and a site currently under construction in the West Midlands, bp pulse intends to open hundreds of additional charging hubs in other locations around the UK by the end of 2030.
“Customers say power is more important than the number of charging points. That’s why we’re focusing on expanding our ultra-fast charging infrastructure. We believe EV charging in the right place, at the right time, and at the right speed is what will deliver the EV charging network the UK needs.”
Akira Kirton, vice president, bp pulse UK
Watch the short film above to find out more.
