Our latest steps in electrification
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
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
bp to invest $1 billion in US EV charging
A key part of the investment will enable bp to help meet demand from Hertz’s growing fleet of EV rentals, including the intention to bring fast charging to Hertz locations in 12 new cities, such as Houston, New York and Chicago. The investment expands on the 2022 memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two companies, which set out to develop a network of EV charging stations across Hertz’s national footprint of locations, powered by bp pulse.
Many of the installations will include Gigahub sites – large-scale fast-charging hubs that will serve rideshare and taxi drivers, car rental customers and the general public at high-demand locations, such as airports. Previously, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) was announced as the first Gigahub location.
“We’re bringing more fast charging options to more Americans for faster EV adoption. Working alongside Hertz, we’re excited to drive the future of mobility.”
Dave Lawler, bp America chairman and CEO
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.
Urban hubs charging across Europe
APCOA is the UK’s leading provider of tailored parking solutions, with an established presence in Europe. Under the strategic agreement signed by the two companies, bp pulse plans to install ultra-fast charging at APCOA car parks – ‘urban hubs’ – in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and the UK over the next three years.
By digitally integrating the bp pulse and ‘APCOA Connect’ apps in the UK and ‘APCOA Flow’ app in Europe, they aim to provide a convenient customer journey. Registered users will be able to locate, access, book and pay for their charging and parking at the car park from their mobile, and the car park’s entry and exit barriers will open automatically as the vehicle approaches.
Two urban hubs in Berlin and Bremen in Germany are expected to open in the third quarter of 2023. Operated by Aral pulse, they will be the first locations to offer ultra-fast charging that can charge a minimum of six cars, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Europe’s first electric charging corridor for trucks
bp pulse is building eight dedicated E-Truck charging stations along a 600-kilometre stretch of Germany’s Rhine-Alpine Corridor, one of Europe’s major road transportation routes.
Building on our first E-Truck charging facility opened in Rheinland-Pfalz in the summer of 2022, these charging locations will be capable of supporting more than 20 medium and heavy-duty vehicles per charger, every day, adding significant capacity to the network.
The latest 300kw electric chargers are capable of delivering up to 200 kilometres of range in around 45 minutes, which also happens to be the mandatory time required for truck drivers to take a break from the road.
“This is a significant moment for E-Trucks in Europe and an important step in our journey towards helping to decarbonize truck transportation. By electrifying this stretch of the Rhine-Alpine corridor with ultra-fast charging, bp is enabling EV truck charging beyond ‘back to base’, while rapidly learning customer insights that will directly inform our longer-term European network and proposition.”
Nigel Head, EV truck director, Europe, bp pulse
Going electric in New Zealand
bp has launched its global electrification business in New Zealand.
The first charge points at sites in the Auckland suburbs of Millwater and Takinini, as well as Rolleston, on the South Island, mark the beginning of an initial wave of around 600.
Each charger – supplied by Australian-based manufacturer Tritium – has two connectors and can charge two vehicles simultaneously. In 2023, bp plans to connect new and existing chargers to higher-power grid connections that will enable charging speeds of up to 150kW, depending on the number of vehicles connected.
Today, bp has a network of 210 strategically located branded retail sites in New Zealand, providing a strong foundation for the roll-out of fast, high-quality charging.
“This is the latest example of how we have evolved the service station experience for busy Kiwis on the go – giving our customers the confidence to switch to electric vehicles and help the country achieve its net zero goals.”
Emma Delaney, bp executive vice president, customers and products
bp pulse teams up with M&S
Marks & Spencer (M&S) customers will soon be able to charge their EV while they shop, thanks to an exclusive agreement with bp pulse.
Over the next two years, bp pulse will install, operate and maintain up to 900 rapid and ultra-fast charging points at up to 70 of M&S’s national stores, with more to come.
The roll-out will significantly expand bp pulse’s network and add up to 40,000kWhs of charging capacity to the UK’s EV infrastructure.
“This is exactly the kind of collaboration the UK needs to help accelerate the transition to lower carbon transport and we’re delighted to be working with M&S to make that happen.”
Akira Kirton, CEO, bp pulse UK
15 rapid (50kW) charge points are already available at M&S Maidstone Eclipse and Southgate following successful pilot installations.
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 250 bp pulse charge points are already available at more than 60 bp-operated forecourts which also offer M&S Food.
bp pulse launches in Australia
Our CEO, Bernard Looney, officially launched bp pulse in Australia when he pressed the switch to start charging an EV at bp Bayside at Brighton East in Melbourne.
The launch kicks off bp’s ambitions for around 600 charge points in Australia, and to build the country’s most convenient fast-charging EV network and customer experience.
Sites at Diamond Creek in Victoria and Caboolture in Queensland have also opened to the public.
“It’s brilliant to get bp pulse under way in Australia, delivering a high-speed, high-quality charging experience to help accelerate the transition to electric vehicles.”
Bernard Looney, bp chief executive officer
The initial rollout will see chargers installed at key metropolitan and regional bp retail locations along Australia’s east coast, where EV drivers can also pick up a snack or drink at our Wild Bean Cafes.
Each Tritium charger has two connectors and can charge two vehicles simultaneously. In 2023, new and existing chargers will be connected to high-power grid connections that will enable charging speeds of up to 150kW.
Quick stop to charge and shop
German supermarket giant REWE has said it will add ultra-fast Aral pulse EV charging points to 180 of its sites across the country by the end of 2024. Up to six chargers operated with electricity from 100% renewable energy are planned for each site.
That could add up to at least 720 charging points with a charging capacity of up to 54,000kW being installed across the network.
The new 150kW chargers can provide up to 150 kilometres (93 miles) of range in just 10 minutes – meaning customers can quickly and conveniently charge up while doing their shopping.
“Partnerships like these are exactly what we need to rapidly expand our range of e-charging systems. Our goal is to provide our customers with fast and reliable charging where they need it.”
Alexander Junge, Aral board member for e-Mobility
More to come: Aral and REWE, which have been in partnership since 2016, are considering fitting chargers at an additional 600 non-REWE-owned locations in Germany.
Network news
bp is to team up with one of the biggest names on the road in the US to accelerate electrification.
Hertz has a footprint of locations across North America suitable for bp pulse to build and manage a network of fast-charging hubs to serve Hertz customers, including taxi and ride sharing drivers, as well as the general public.
The two companies plan to build upon and customize bp pulse’s existing OMEGA fleet charging and energy management software for Hertz’s growing number of electric rental vehicles, which it aims to account for a quarter of its entire fleet by 2024.
OMEGA supports fleet operations by automating charging when the power price is low, while providing real-time visibility to EVs, chargers, power usage, and more.
“It’s brilliant to be joining forces with Hertz – quite simply, they are one of the biggest names on the road.”
Bernard Looney, bp CEO
Castrol partners with world’s top EV producer
BYD (China), which stopped producing traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles this year to focus on PHEVs and pure EVs, will also officially recommend Castrol ON EV Transmission Fluid for its luxury flagship Han series under a three-year partnership. The mid-size sedan is the OEM’s best-selling model and one of the most popular plug-in cars in China.
Castrol ON EV Transmission Fluid helps to extend the life of the drivetrain system and enables EVs to go further on a single charge versus mass-market EV factory fill fluid.
This latest move builds on existing first-fill and service-fill agreements with Castrol.
Expanding in Europe
We intend to form two 50/50 joint ventures (JVs) with the Spanish utility company Iberdrola to significantly expand fast EV public charging infrastructure and develop large-scale green hydrogen production hubs in Spain, Portugal and the UK.
For EV charging, this JV intends to invest up to €1 billion ($1 billion) to roll out a network of up to 11,000 rapid and ultra-fast public charge points across Spain and Portugal. The aim is to have 5,000 in place by 2025 and the full network by 2030, including bp and Iberdrola’s existing and future fast-charging hubs.
We’ll also look at options to jointly serve EV customers in the UK.
“Creating the lower carbon energy solutions that our customers want and need requires the integration of different technologies, capabilities and forms of energy. We can deliver this faster and at scale when we work in partnership with others.”
Bernard Looney, bp CEO
Electrifying trucks
bp has taken its first step in what could be the next big transformation in electrification – trucks.
Currently, this form of transport relies heavily on the power and efficiency of diesel to move heavy loads, making it a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions and, until now, one of the hardest to electrify.
But in Schwegenheim in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, our Aral pulse brand has just opened two new state-of-the-art, ultra-fast charging points aimed specifically at medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks.
The 300-kilowatt chargers are powered by 100% renewable energy and capable of adding approximately 150-200 kilometres (90-125 miles) of range in around 45 minutes, making them ideal for a variety of truck types and journeys.
We’ve been working with partner Daimler Trucks to help us understand key site design issues. As a result, we built the facilities at one of our Aral retail stations on a major road between Stuttgart and Karlsruhe. We widened the charging bays and added convenience amenities, such as a PetitBistro café, so that truck drivers can enjoy their mandatory 45-minute break in comfort, knowing that the rest of their journey will be covered by the extra electric power.
Aral pulse goes to number one
The German arm of bp pulse has been named the country’s top ultra-fast charging operator. Aral pulse now operates the largest number of sites in Germany with 150-kilowatt ultra-fast charging, according to data from EV mapping service Schnellladepark.
- That’s 145 sites and a total of 858 points capable of delivering up to 160 kilometres of range in as little as 10 minutes of charging, depending on the model of vehicle.
- And they’re not stopping there. Aral pulse aims to have to have a further 1,500 charging points available by the end of this year and 5,000 by 2025.
That will power a lot of Porsches.
On a grand scale
The UK’s largest event space will be home to one of Europe’s largest charging hubs this autumn.
The National Exhibition Centre in the Midlands will not only host concerts and trade shows, but also ultra-fast chargers operated by bp pulse in a designated hub at the venue.
The deal, which was announced today by charging infrastructure company the EV Network and Birmingham-based events group NEC, includes Alpitronic ultra-fast 300KW DC chargers, allowing 32 EVs to charge at any one time. And to meet increasing demand, an existing car park will accommodate the hub’s remaining 150 bays for 7KW charging for customers’ use during their time at the venue.
Plans for the hub also include building an adjacent drive-thru coffee shop to cater for visitors while they wait for their vehicles to charge.
Image courtesy of the EV Network, News
Flex appeal
From today, Volkswagen and bp are rapidly rolling out EV fast charging across Europe, with the first of 8,000 off-grid ‘Flexpole’ battery-integrated units now live in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Some 4,000 charging points are planned within 24 months in Germany and the UK. For convenience, charger locations will be easy to find via in-car apps of VW, Skoda and Seat/Cupra, as well as Volkswagen’s charging application, Elli.
VW’s Flexpole charging units are a game-changing technology that overcome the problem of providing high-powered grid-connections. Instead, they can be directly connected to a low-voltage grid to continually recharge the battery. This removes the need for a dedicated substation and costly construction work – cutting installation times while still providing fast charging speeds of up to 150kW1. That’s enough to deliver up to 160 kilometres of range in as little as 10 minutes of charging, depending on the model of vehicle.
It’s all part of bp’s strategic partnership with Volkswagen that aims to significantly boost EV fast charging in key European markets by the end of 2024.
1Fast charging includes rapid charging ≥50kW and ultra-fast charging ≥150k.
A day in the life
Check out this time lapse film shot over 24 hours at bp’s busiest EV charging station, Hammersmith in London. In just one day, we sold almost 2,250kWh of electricity – that’s enough to power an EV from London to Berlin 10 times over.
And we want many more just like it. That’s why we’re planning to triple the size of our bp pulse network in the UK by 2030 with a £1 billion investment in infrastructure. It’s part of our support of the country’s transition to low carbon transportation for both consumers and fleet vehicles.
AMPLY Power provides charging solutions for commercial fleets
In for the long haul
bp has taken a first major step into the electric charging of commercial fleets operating trucks, buses and vans in the US with its acquisition of AMPLY Power.
AMPLY Power specializes in providing electric fleets with the right charging solutions. Its comprehensive Charging-as-a-Service (CaaS) approach for fleet operators helps to ensure each EV is optimally charged and available when needed, in exchange for a price-per-mile-driven fee. AMPLY’s proprietary software technology, OMEGA, helps fleet operators to manage energy costs and optimizes performance by providing real-time monitoring of EV charging operations and preventative maintenance for both vehicles and chargers.
It’s an important moment in bp’s global electrification strategy to scale up next-generation mobility solutions, says Richard Bartlett, SVP, future mobility and solutions: “bp is aiming to speed up electrification in the fast-growing fleet segment, which has a key role to play in lowering emissions from the transport sector. As we continue to invest in new forms of infrastructure and technology to serve our global fleet customers, AMPLY Power provides an ideal opportunity to build our EV business in the US. They bring an experienced team, a rapidly expanding customer base, and user-friendly digital platform.”
AMPLY POWER was named on the 2021 Global Cleantech 100 list for the second year in a row, and counts public and private fleets amongst its customers, including major transit operators and school bus providers.
