bp pulse Sets Aside £1 Billion for EV Charging Infrastructure in UK

bp pulse, a supplier of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, is to invest £1 billion in Electronic Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, which is the company's largest-ever EV charging expansion over ten years. The announcement comes following the official visit by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to bp pulse's UK headquarters in Milton Keynes. The proceeds will help the deployment of more rapid and ultra-fast chargers in significant locations.

The EV charging business of bp, bp pulse, looks forward to investing in the next ten years to help the UK meet its fast-growing demand for EV charging and facilitate the nation's shift to low carbon transportation for consumers and fleet vehicles.

The investment will help bp pulse deliver more rapid EV chargers in significant locations, launch home charge digital products and services to improve customers' experience, and expand fleet products and services. 

Richard Bartlett, Senior Vice President, bp pulse said: “This £1 billion investment is vital to provide the charging infrastructure that the UK needs. We are investing to build a world-class network. This investment allows us to deliver more. More high-speed charging in dedicated hubs and on existing fuel and convenience sites. More home charging services. And crucial enhancements to our digital technology that will make charging fast, easy and reliable.”

bp pulse investment will triple the number of public charging points across its UK network. It steps up the launch of state-of-the-art 300kW and 150kW charging points that help EV drivers travel more than 100 miles for just 10 minutes of charging. It also helps update its present technology to improve reliability, create hundreds of new jobs in the UK. 

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "I am delighted that bp pulse is supporting the transition to cleaner vehicles as we accelerate towards our net-zero ambitions and boost green jobs opportunities right across the UK. Convenient, reliable and affordable charging is key to our green revolution and this investment from bp will make it easier for drivers up and down the country to go electric.  

"This step comes alongside the Government's publication of its landmark EV Infrastructure Strategy, showcasing the huge commitment of both the public and private sector in the nationwide switch to electric vehicles. EVs benefit from lower fuel, running and maintenance costs than their petrol and diesel equivalents and the strategy hopes to encourage drivers across the nation to make the switch.”

The announcement comes as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps unveiled the government's EV Infrastructure Strategy at bp pulse's UK headquarters for network growth, customer support, and operations centre in Milton Keynes.

bp intends to spend £2 for every £1 it earns in the UK this decade, including investments to assist the UK to reach net zero. bp pulse is part of bp's integrated UK business portfolio, which includes plans to develop up to 5.9GW gross of offshore wind capacity across the Irish Sea and the North Sea. 

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive said: “We welcome this significant contribution to the UK’s rapid charging network, delivering additional capability which will help assure EV drivers and support the fast-accelerating market for high-powered battery electric vehicles. Automotive manufacturers have invested billions in EVs, with more than 150 models now available in the UK across a range of segments, and consumers are responding. Investments such as this are essential to give motorists the confidence to switch, and we need to see the full variety of charging locations – the motorway, at work, destinations and, especially, on-street charging, if we are to decarbonize road transport at a pace.”

bp pulse's investment will help serve several new electric vehicles on UK roads with innovative, dependable, and high-speed charging choices, as the UK's most utilised public charging network.

bp pulse also plans to play a key role in helping to electrify the UK's fleet of cars and to speed up the roll-out of EV charging solutions to companies in the UK. In both London and Scotland, it already collaborates with the UK's largest fleet, Royal Mail, Uber, and emergency services.