BP and Tesla Forge Groundbreaking Charging Partnership

BP Pulse, the electric vehicle (EV) subsidiary of British Petroleum, has recently made a groundbreaking agreement with Tesla, marking the first of its kind. Under this deal, BP has committed to purchasing Tesla Supercharger station hardware worth $100 million, in order to expand its own DC fast-charging network.

While BP Pulse already possesses charging stations and a limited network, this move is significant as it aligns with its objective of investing nearly $1 billion in EV infrastructure by 2030. Importantly, it also represents the first instance of Tesla selling its hardware to a third-party entity operating on a different charging network. This not only opens up an additional revenue stream for Tesla, but also holds the potential to benefit the entire EV market.

Tesla has a global network of approximately 50,000 charging stations, while BP Pulse currently has just under 28,000. Despite the different appearance from Tesla's Superchargers, the two companies will collaborate to enhance accessibility for all. Tesla's senior director for charging infrastructure, Rebecca Tinucci, expressed, "Venturing into selling our fast-charging hardware is a new endeavor that we aim to expand upon."

BP Pulse

Starting in 2024, BP Pulse plans to expand its electric vehicle (EV) charging network by incorporating Tesla Supercharger hardware. As a result, EV owners will have access to chargers at various BP-branded locations, such as TravelCenters of America, AM/PM, Amoco, Thorntons, and other sites. This expansion will provide EV drivers with the opportunity to visit their preferred gas stations again, but for charging rather than refueling with gasoline. Additionally, BP Pulse intends to continue the rollout of Superchargers at other locations listed in its expansion roadmap, including Hertz rental car sites and larger-scale charging hubs. The initial deployment of BP Pulse Superchargers will occur in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the greater Washington DC area.

BP's Tesla hardware enables 250-kilowatt charging and is designed to be compatible with both Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) and Combined Charging System (CCS) plugs, ensuring support for a wide range of vehicles. Furthermore, this advancement in technology from BP Pulse will not only benefit regular consumers but also facilitate the deployment of chargers at numerous private depots for fleet customers. By combining BP Pulse's industry-leading intelligent charge management software with Tesla's fast and dependable chargers, a comprehensive charging experience will be delivered.