bp acquires freehold of one of Europe's largest truck stops, unveiling ambitious plans to help heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) electrify
- bp pulse acquires the freehold of a strategically placed truck stop in Ashford, Kent – one of the largest in Europe
- The truck stop’s proximity to Dover and the Eurotunnel, where 3.5 million heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) cross the English Channel annually, provides bp pulse with the opportunity to support HGV operators transitioning to EVs
- bp pulse plans to transform the site with mega-watt EV chargers for HGVs
bp pulse, bp’s electric vehicle charging brand, has acquired the freehold of one of the largest truck stops in Europe, Ashford International Truckstop in Kent, as part of its drive to support HGV fleets as they electrify.
Strategically located off junction 10 and 10a of the M20, Ashford International Truckstop is close to Dover, the UK’s busiest ferry port, and LeShuttle Freight via the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone. Approximately 3.5 million heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) travel across the channel via the port of Dover and Eurotunnel each year. The acquisition presents bp with the opportunity to help meet the comprehensive needs of UK and European HGV operators transitioning to EVs.
The site has the capacity to host approximately 20 mega-watt chargers (MCS), 10 x 400kW and 125 x 100 kW chargers. This capacity is subject to power connection availability and the pace of electrification in the UK and European road freight sector. It could enable bp pulse to install a range of charging options suitable for both on-the-go and overnight HGVs.
“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 Dobschuetz, general manager, bp pulse Europer
The first mega-watt chargers are expected to be in place from 2026. A mega-watt charger has the potential to fully charge an HGV in up to 45 minutes, enabling an onward range of ~310 miles (500km) in a single charge1, depending on EV model, battery, the weather and driving conditions.
Stefan von Dobschuetz, general manager bp pulse Europe, said: “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. The location of this truck stop aligns with our mission to provide accessible and strategically positioned charging infrastructure for our customers along the major truck corridors in Europe.
“Now we need to unlock the EV charging potential at this site. We look forward to working with national energy infrastructure partners to facilitate timely power connections for our ambitious project.”
Ashford International Truckstop is currently owned by the GSE Group. The 21-acre site already offers 660 secure parking bays and convenience services for HGV drivers. As part of the agreement, bp pulse will lease back the site to Ashford International Truckstop Ltd, part of GSE Group, to operate the existing site facilities and secure parking on a long-term lease. bp pulse will operate and manage the EV charging infrastructure.
Darrell Healey, chairman of GSE Group, said: “We know the industry, including many of our clients, want to go electric. They will need convenient and quick charging infrastructure in the right locations, which is why the combination of the truck stop at Ashford and bp pulse works so well.
“Our knowledge and experience of operating arguably the best truck stop in the UK, combined with bp pulse’s capabilities in building the EV-charging infrastructure required by our existing and future customers, is a perfect partnership. We're looking forward to seeing our site evolve and serve such E-trucks and to continue to explore other potential truck stop projects in the UK.”
bp aims to create a network of mobility hubs along key logistics corridors across UK and Europe, providing freight operators with a range of energy options, including traditional fuels to support its fleet customers at every stage of their decarbonization journey.
Already in action, bp is supporting the decarbonization of road transportation.
“bp fleet solutions provide innovative energy and mobility solutions to help fleets of all shapes and sizes decarbonise, today, tomorrow, together. Across Europe, we support 1.8 million fleet drivers providing fuels, charging and convenience offers across key logistics routes. This acquisition will be a great addition to our offering,” said Alex Eftimiu, vice president Fleet Europe, bp.
In January 2023, bp launched Europe’s first truck-charging corridor along a 600km stretch of the Rhine-Alpine corridor across Germany. 21 Aral pulse (bp’s brand in Germany) EV truck stops are already operational in Germany enabling an electric truck to cover over 750km across multiple routes throughout Germany. Once the EV chargers are installed on the acquired site, bp pulse is set to establish a link between the UK and its German charging corridor to further encourage HGV operators to shift to electric.
The acquisition is a tangible illustration of bp’s strategy to increase investment in the transition to lower carbon energy while also keeping oil and gas flowing where it’s needed today. EV charging is just one of bp’s five ‘transition growth engines’, alongside convenience, bioenergy, hydrogen and renewables and power.
bp welcomes inquiries from property developers and landowners interested in collaborating to facilitate the growth of its EV charging network across Europe. For more information or to explore opportunities, please contact landenquiries@bp.com.
1 Mercedes-Benz Trucks celebrates world premiere of the battery electric long-haul truck eActros 600
Notes to editors
- bp pulse is plugging in high-speed charging points in the right locations to boost consumer confidence in driving electric.
- In 2022, bp pulse announced plans to invest up to £1 billion in the UK’s EV charging infrastructure and up to €100 million in Germany’s EV charging infrastructure by 2030.
- With a global ambition of having more than 100,000 charge points installed worldwide by 2030 focused on rapid and ultra-fast charging.
- Since 2019, bp pulse has increased its charge points by 150% worldwide and is continuing to grow its network in Germany, China, the UK, Europe, the US, Australia and more.
- In the UK, bp pulse is one of the largest charging point operators.
- In Germany, Aral pulse, is one of the largest ultrafast charge point operators and has been awarded best charge point operator in the country following connect’s 2023 charging network test (view the press release in German).
About bp
bp’s purpose is to reimagine energy for people and our planet. It has set out an ambition to be a net zero company by 2050, or sooner and help the world get to net zero, and a strategy for delivering on that ambition. For more information visit bp.com.
We’re investing in today's energy system, which is mainly oil and gas – and, not or – in our transition and the energy transition. And while we’re mostly in oil and gas today, we’ve increased global investment in our lower carbon, convenience stores and power trading businesses (what we call our ‘transition growth engines’) from around 3% in 2019 to around 30% in 2022. You can find out more at: Our transformation.
About bp pulse
bp pulse is bp’s electric vehicle (EV) charging business. It is one of the leading rapid and ultra-fast public EV charging networks in the UK and operates the largest number of sites with ultra-fast charging in Germany.
bp’s EV charging journey started in 2018 with the acquisition of Chargemaster Ltd in the UK. Rebranded to bp pulse, its presence has extended rapidly across the world to China, Germany, Netherlands and the US.
Focused on fast, reliable charging, bp pulse is rolling out charge points to consumers and commercial fleets wherever they need them – including at bp forecourts.
EV charging is one of the key growth engines driving bp’s transformation to an integrated energy company. The company aims to grow its network of public EV charging points by 2030 to over 100,000 worldwide.
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