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bp pulse, bp’s EV charging business, announced a £1 billion ($1.2 billion) investment into EV charging in the UK, which will be unfurled over the next decade.
The investment aims to meet the UK’s ever-increasing demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging services.
It also aims to support the country’s transition to low carbon transportation for both consumers and fleet vehicles.
bp expects the development to create hundreds of new jobs in the UK.
The investment will allow bp pulse to deliver more rapid and ultra-fast chargers in key locations. Fleet products and services will be expanded and new home charge digital products and services will be launched.
The investment will see bp triple the volume of their UK network’s public charging points.
Rollout of the company’s 300KW and 150KW ultra-fast charging points will be accelerated. This will provide EV drivers with 100 miles of range within 10 minutes of charging, depending on the EV model.
bp will also upgrade its EV charging technology across its public charging network to improve reliability.
The announcement comes as Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, visited bp pulse’s UK headquarters for network expansion and customer care and operational centre in Milton Keynes.
Shapps commented, “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.
Shapps went on to relate the investment to the release of the UK’s policy paper, UK electric vehicle infrastructure strategy, which showcases “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.”
Richard Bartlett, senior vice president, also stated, “This £1 billion investment is vital to provide the charging infrastructure the UK needs.
“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.”
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.
“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 decarbonise road transport at pace.”
