Dive Brief:
- BP will buy $100 million worth of 250-kilowatt ultra-fast electric vehicle charging units from Tesla, according to a Thursday press release from the energy company.
- The chargers are expected to be installed at sites across BP’s c-store footprint, including its Ampm, Thorntons, Amoco and TravelCenters of America banners. Chargers will also be installed at BP’s Gigahub charging hubs as well as third-party locations like Hertz and select fleet customer depots.
- In February, BP announced that it would be spending $500 million in the next few years and $1 billion by 2030 to improve EV charging infrastructure in the U.S.
Dive Insight:
The addition of these chargers to BP’s Pulse EV charging network marks a significant step in the energy company’s electrification efforts across its c-store footprint and broader operations. The company’s TravelCenters of America banner, for one, has set a target of installing 1,000 EV chargers at its locations by 2028. Globally, BP plans to install 100,000 charging points by 2030 — up from the 27,000 it currently has in place.
The deal also marks the first time Tesla’s hardware has been bought for use on an independent charging network, according to BP’s announcement. The first of the Tesla chargers under this new agreement will come online in 2024.
"Selling our fast-charging hardware is a new step for us, and one we’re looking to expand in support of our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy," Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla's senior director of charging infrastructure said in the release.
The hardware will be branded, installed and operated by Pulse, and will be able to charge vehicles made by various auto manufacturers that feature either North American Charging Standard (NACS) or Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors. Additionally, they will offer the plug-and-charge protocol, which automates payment for users.
The first chargers are coming to Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C. The release did not note installment dates for these locations.
“Combined with our vast network of convenience and mobility sites on and off the highway, this collaboration with Tesla will bring fast and reliable charging to EV drivers when and where they need it," said Richard Bartlett, global CEO of BP Pulse.
In addition to the deal with Tesla, BP is growing its EV charging network through National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funding. It has already won awards for six sites in Pennsylvania and one in Colorado.
BP is targeting net zero emissions by 2050.
London-based BP owns a variety of convenience retailing brands across the U.S. Besides its own branded stores, BP’s umbrella also includes Thorntons, Amoco, Ampm and TravelCenters of America. Its U.S. headquarters are in Houston.
