BP Pulse opens fleet rapid charging hub in London

BP Pulse has opened a rapid charging hub for fleet vehicles on Park Lane, London, which can provide rapid charging for 10 vehicles simultaneously.

The company intends to open hundreds of similar hubs across London and other UK and European cities by 2030.

Richard Bartlett, bp’s senior vice president, future mobility & solutions, said: “London anticipates that by 2025 taxis and private hire vehicles will account for 80% of all public charging demand in the city. Fast, reliable charging infrastructure in convenient locations is essential to give business and fleet customers the confidence to make the switch to electric. That’s why we’re opening our new hubs at the heart of major cities across the UK and Europe, aiming to keep fleets charged and ready for business - whilst producing zero emissions.”

As part of its strategic relationship with BP, Uber is BP’s first fleet customer to get access to the new hubs, with dedicated charge points for Uber partner-drivers.

Jamie Heywood, Uber Regional General Manager, Northern and Eastern Europe said: “At Uber, we have been doing everything we can to encourage drivers to switch to electric vehicles, including launching Uber Green to make zero-emissions transport a reality. We know that one of the greatest barriers to electrification is the lack of rapid charging points in the rightplaces that are convenient for drivers - bp pulse’s fantastic new hub is a great step forward in making sure their needs will be met.”

The new rapid charging hubs will help to deliver charging in locations where fleet and operational vehicles need it most – and importantly at scale, with a target of at least 10 chargers per site. Wherever possible, additional facilities will be provided at each location, including toilets, WiFi and refreshments.

The Park Lane hub has 10 rapid 50kW chargers, with a further 12 chargers planned in the coming months. A second site is already under construction in the Westminster area.