BP is gearing up for a significant expansion of its U.S. charging network, with plans to acquire Tesla Supercharger sites as part of its strategy, Bloomberg reports. The company is ramping up efforts to secure real estate to scale its network, particularly in light of recent developments at Tesla.
Following Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s decision to downsize the Supercharger team, BP sees an opportunity to capitalize on the shifting landscape of the public charging network. Sujay Sharma, CEO of BP Pulse Americas, expressed openness to partnering with stranded real estate owners, emphasizing a proactive approach to expansion.
BP intends to invest $1 billion by 2030 to install over 3,000 chargers in the U.S., with half of the investment planned for the next two to three years. This includes the establishment of large-scale charging sites called Gigahubs, equipped with 12 or more chargers.
Having introduced EV charging in 2010 and ramping up efforts since 2017, BP views EV charging as a profitable business line. The company’s commitment to charging infrastructure mirrors a broader trend in the industry, with oil giants like Shell also pivoting towards EV charging.
In addition to BP’s expansion plans, dedicated charging networks like Electrify America and Ionna are also pushing for growth. These networks, backed by automakers and regulatory fines, aim to significantly increase the availability of fast-charging stations across North America. While there’s a shift towards standardization with the Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector, ensuring reliability requires more than just connector compatibility. It’s about interoperability, software updates, and ongoing maintenance to ensure a seamless charging experience for EV owners.