BP has announced it will invest £1 billion in electric vehicle (EV) charging in the UK over the next decade.
The energy giant said the move, it’s largest-ever expansion into EV charging, will see its number of sites in the UK approximately triple by 2030, which currently stand at around 9,000.
BP said the investment is expected to support hundreds of new jobs in the UK.
It will also accelerate the roll out of state-of-the-art 300kW and 150kW ultra-fast charging points – able to provide drivers with 100 miles of range in around 10 minutes of charging, depending on the model.
UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps visited the UK headquarters of BP Pulse in Milton Keynes to mark the investment, which comes as the government today publishes an EV infrastructure strategy.
He said: “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.
“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.”
BP has previously said that for every £1 it makes in the UK this decade, it plans to spend £2, on projects such as offshore wind and hydrogen.
Richard Bartlett, senior vice president, bp pulse said: “This £1 billion investment is vital to provide the charging infrastructure the UK needs.
“We’re investing to build a world-class network. 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.”
The news comes after rival Shell announced yesterday that it would invest up to £25 billion in the UK over the next decade in low and zero-carbon schemes like offshore wind, hydrogen and electric mobility.
Country manager David Bunch said more details will follow in the coming months.
