BP Becomes First Third-Party Company to Purchase Tesla Superchargers for Electric Car Charging Network in the US
BP has signed a groundbreaking deal with Tesla to purchase $100 million worth of Superchargers, making it the first third-party company to use Tesla’s ultra-fast charging technology. The Superchargers will be integrated into BP’s electric-car charging network, known as BP Pulse, and rolled out across the US in 2024.
The announcement marks a significant milestone in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, as it signifies a collaboration between a major oil company and an EV manufacturer. This move also highlights BP’s commitment to expanding its electric-car charging infrastructure and embracing renewable energy solutions.
The adoption of Tesla Superchargers by BP Pulse will provide electric vehicle owners with faster charging times, ultimately addressing one of the main concerns of EV adoption – range anxiety. With the integration of Tesla’s high-speed charging technology, BP aims to enhance the overall charging experience and encourage more consumers to transition to electric vehicles.
It is worth noting that Tesla’s Superchargers utilize the North American Charging Standard (NACS), which is an electric-car charging plug designed by Tesla and available for use by all car manufacturers. This standardized charging infrastructure has gained popularity among car companies in the US, with many major automakers, including Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volvo, announcing plans to adopt NACS plugs in their future electric vehicles.
However, in Australia, the NACS plug is not utilized, and there have been no announced plans to adopt it. Instead, electric vehicles in Australia, including Tesla cars, are equipped with Combined Charging System (CCS) plugs for high-speed charging.
While BP’s plans for incorporating Tesla Superchargers into its Australian network remain undisclosed, Tesla has expanded the number of Superchargers in Australia that are accessible to all electric cars, not just Teslas. Currently, there are 30 Supercharger sites out of a total of 63 in Australia that support models equipped with CCS fast-charging sockets.
The specific version of the Superchargers that BP will deploy in the US is yet to be specified, but Tesla is currently rolling out its latest ‘V4’ chargers capable of delivering charging speeds of up to 350kW. These new chargers are an upgrade from the earlier ‘V3’ units released in 2019 and are on par with the best CCS charging stations.
BP has announced its ambitious plans to have over 120,000 electric-car chargers worldwide by 2030, with a significant investment of up to $1 billion in the US alone. In November 2022, BP Pulse was launched in Australia, with plans to install more than 600 electric-car chargers across its local fuel station network.
BP Pulse’s Australian network currently utilizes chargers developed by Brisbane-based company Tritium. Presently, there are 46 active BP Pulse stations in Australia, all equipped with 75kW electric-car chargers. The company has also revealed plans to introduce higher-power 150kW sockets in the near future.
While BP’s partnership with Tesla for Superchargers in the US represents a landmark development in the EV industry, their Australian strategies and potential adoption of Tesla’s charging technology are yet to be officially announced.
This article has been written by Jordan Mulach.