BP orders Superchargers from Tesla

For the first time, Superchargers will be installed in a Tesla-external charging network: BP has ordered 100 million US dollars worth of Supercharger hardware, including CCS adapters, in an unprecedented deal.

According to an official company statement, BP will use the Superchargers for installation in its public charging network BP Pulse in the USA as well as for fleet customers. They will be “branded, installed and operated” by BP Pulse, a subsidiary of the same name. Construction of Tesla’s fast-charging stations is scheduled to begin in 2024. How many units BP will receive for the purchase price of 100 million dollars remains unknown. What is public, however, is that the columns will have a capacity of up to 250 kW.

But back to the deal between Tesla and BP: The first locations to receive BP-branded Superchargers are planned in Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington D.C.. In the process, Tesla’s hardware will be managed by BP Pulse’s Omega charging management software. It is also clear that the fast chargers will support Plug&Charge and will also be integrated into Tesla’s ecosystem. The adapters included in the order are so-called “Magic Docs”. They support CCS, while the pillars originally offer Tesla’s NACS charging technology.

At the beginning of March, Tesla officially opened up its Supercharger network in the USA to non-Tesla vehicles – via “Magic Docks”, which allow CCS-enabled electric cars to charge at Superchargers. Tesla had started equipping its Superchargers with CCS adapters after the fast-charging standard became a condition of eligibility for Supercharger funding in the US.

According to US government data from March, Tesla will make at least 7,500 of its Superchargers and Destination Chargers in the United States “available to all electric vehicles” by the end of 2024, including at least 3,500 V3 Superchargers. In addition, Tesla wants to more than double its Supercharger network in the US by the end of 2024. So this can now also happen with funding from Washington.

For its part, BP is using the Tesla agreement to advance its goal of investing up to one billion dollars in charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in the USA by 2030. The BP Pulse subsidiary is said to have already installed more than 27,000 charging points and to reach more than 100,000 charging points worldwide by 2030.

“Strengthening the bp pulse network with Tesla’s industry-leading hardware is a major step forward in our ambitions for high speed, open access charging infrastructure in the US and advances our ambition to delivering an exceptional customer experience,” said Richard Bartlett, global CEO of BP-Pulse. “Combined with our vast network of convenience and mobility sites on and off the highway, this collaboration with Tesla will bring fast and reliable charging to EV drivers when and where they need it.”

Tesla also commented on the deal. Rebecca Tinucci, senior director of charging infrastructure, is quoted as saying, “At Tesla, we’re driven to enable great charging experiences for all EV owners. Selling our fast-charging hardware is a new step for us, and one we’re looking to expand in support of our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.”

bp.com