Dive Brief:
- BP opened the first BP Pulse electric vehicle charging hub at a TravelCenters of America location last week, the company announced on Monday.
- The inaugural site, at a TA travel center in Jacksonville, Florida, has 12 ultra-fast direct-current fast charging positions. It’s the first of at least 40 such sites BP has planned.
- The addition of EV chargers to TravelCenters of America is part of BP’s push to surpass 100,000 charging bays around the world by 2030.
Dive Insight:
EV charging is one of BP’s strategic growth engines. The company earmarked $1 billion toward the capability from 2023 through 2030, with half of that expected to be invested by the end of 2025. BP already has more than 37,500 EV charging positions operating worldwide, with around 8,000 of those in the U.S., according to the announcement.
While BP Pulse has already built its hubs in many areas, including at airports and at the company’s headquarters in Houston, the Jacksonville charging station is the company’s first at a TravelCenters of America.
EV drivers favor rest stops when charging away from home and are more likely to choose sites with amenities like restrooms or convenience stores. The TA in Jacksonville has WiFi and both Popeyes and Subway QSRs, offering drivers plenty of options.
“These sites are strategically located across key highway corridors that provide our customers with enroute charging when and where they need it most, while offering convenient amenities, like restaurants and restrooms,” said Sujay Sharma, CEO of BP Pulse Americas, in a statement.
