BP pulse, the electric vehicle (EV) charging arm of bp, has announced a $100 million deal to acquire Supercharging hardware units from Tesla.
The investment announced on Thursday aims to expand bp pulse’s public charging network across the United States and offer support for EV fleet customers by installing chargers at private depots. This marks the first time Tesla’s charging hardware will be integrated into an independent EV charging network.
The deployment of Tesla’s chargers is slated to begin in 2024. Locations for the roll-out have been identified in key cities including Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C.
The chargers will also be installed at various bp brand sites, such as TravelCenters of America, Thorntons, ampm, and Amoco, as well as at large-scale Gigahub charging sites in major metropolitan areas and third-party locations like Hertz.
Tesla’s chargers will be paired with bp pulse’s Omega charge management software, allowing bp pulse to oversee the entire charging process for EV fleets.
“Strengthening the bp pulse network with Tesla’s industry-leading hardware is a major step forward in our ambitions for high-speed, open-access charging infrastructure in the U.S,” said Richard Bartlett, global CEO of bp pulse, in a statement.
The Tesla Superchargers, capable of 250 kW output, will be branded, installed, and operated by bp pulse. They will feature Tesla’s ‘Magic Dock,’ compatible with both North American Charging Standard (NACS) and Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors, allowing EVs from other manufacturers to use the chargers. The chargers will also support the Plug and Charge protocol to automate payments.
“At Tesla, we’re driven to enable great charging experiences for all EV owners. 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. We appreciate bp’s partnership in this area – it’s the right step towards a more sustainable future,” said Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla’s Senior Director of Charging Infrastructure.
In addition to the Tesla deal, bp pulse plans to continue deploying fast and reliable charging points at high-demand locations and has been awarded grants for charging infrastructure in various states. The company previously announced a $1 billion investment plan in America’s EV charging infrastructure by 2030, with $500 million earmarked for the next two to three years.
This is big news for Tesla as bp is traditionally an oil and gas company, but now pivoting to electric and investing in hardware from Elon Musk’s automaker. Expect others to similarly follow suit after this deal.
