BP has announced a $100 million deal to acquire Tesla Supercharger hardware, making it the first company to do so for use in a third-party charging network. The move is a significant step forward for BP’s EV charging ambitions, as Tesla’s Superchargers are known for their fast charging speeds and convenience.
BP Pulse, BP’s EV charging business, will invest the proceeds from the deal into expanding its public charging network across the US. The company plans to install the new chargers at businesses under the BP family of brands, such as TravelCenters of America, Thorntons, Ampm, Amoco, and its upcoming “Gigahub” charging sites.
Third-party locations, such as Hertz rental car sites, will also be included in the rollout. The first deployment locations will be Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, DC. BP Pulse plans to start installing the new chargers next year and has a goal of having more than 100,000 charging stalls worldwide by 2030.
BP Pulse has previously purchased charging equipment from Tritium, including units that can charge up to 50kW or 150kW. Tesla’s Superchargers can charge at up to 250kW, so the new deal will represent a significant boost to BP Pulse’s fast-charging capabilities.
BP’s version of the Tesla Superchargers will run on software called Omega, which is different from Tesla’s system. Omega can oversee charging for fleet operators like Hertz and supports a Plug-and-Charge protocol that does not require a card tap or app activation. EV drivers can simply plug in their car, and Omega will automatically charge their account for the electricity.
The deal between BP and Tesla is a win-win for both companies. BP gains access to Tesla’s industry-leading Supercharger technology, and Tesla gets a new revenue stream and the opportunity to expand its charging network even further. For EV drivers, the deal means more charging options and faster charging speeds.
The sources for this piece include an article in TheVerge.