BP announced a deal in which BP Pulse, BP’s EV charging business, will acquire ultra-fast charging hardware units from Tesla for $100 million. The investment will facilitate the expansion of the BP Pulse public network across the US, while also enabling support for EV fleet customers by deploying chargers at their private depots, the company said. The introduction of Tesla’s chargers to the BP Pulse network is the first time the hardware will be purchased for an independent EV charging network.
BP said the rollout is planned to begin in 2024 and locations will include key sites across the BP family of brands, including TravelCenters of America, Thorntons and Amoco, as well as at BP Pulse’s large-scale Gigahub charging sites in major metropolitan areas and third-party locations, such as Hertz, as part of previously announced collaborations. The first installation sites have been identified in Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington D.C.
The Tesla ultra-fast chargers, which have an output of 250 kW, will be branded, installed and operated by BP Pulse, the company said. The chargers will be fitted with Tesla’s ‘Magic Dock,’ which is compatible with both North American Charging Standard (NACS) and Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors, which enables EVs from other major vehicle manufacturers to use the Tesla chargers on the BP Pulse’s network, regardless of whether they use CCS or NACS ports.
In addition to this deal with Tesla, BP said BP Pulse aims to continue deploying additional fast and reliable charging points at high-demand locations, such as airports, major metropolitan areas, and BP-owned and operated properties along alternative fueling corridors. Furthermore, BP said it has been awarded grant funds through programs like National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) and California Energy Commission (CEC) to provide charging infrastructure at sites in California, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Kentucky.
In February 2023, BP announced plans to invest $1 billion in America’s EV charging infrastructure by 2030 with an aim of investing $500 million in the next two to three years.
