In a groundbreaking development, Tesla, the pioneering electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has secured a $100 million deal with BP, the multinational oil and gas giant. The agreement outlines the acquisition of Tesla's ultra-fastcharging units, a game-changing initiative that will reshape the landscape of public EV charging infrastructure across the United States.

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk has been aggressively sharing the Tesla charging connector with other Electric Vehicle companies. This latest move will expand the fast-charging technology to a third party.

This latest collaboration with BP represents a significant milestone in expanding fast-charging capabilities to third-party entities, marking a substantial stride toward enhanced EV accessibility.

BP, a globally recognized oil and gas conglomerate headquartered in London, England, stands as one of the foremost "supermajors" in the energy industry and one of the largest corporations worldwide. 

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Tesla fast-charging technology

With over 111,000 TravelCenter stations sprawled across the United States, BP is primed to leverage Tesla's cutting-edge charging technology to bolster its public charging network.

BP has officially announced its intention to invest $100 million in procuring Tesla's ultra-fast chargers. This investment signals the inaugural integration of Tesla's charging infrastructure within an autonomous and independent charging network.

Notably, BP has already installed a fleet of 27,000 EV chargers throughout the United States.

The company has ambitious plans to funnel up to $1 billion into the expansion of EV charging infrastructure in the U.S. by the year 2030, spearheaded by its BP Pulse unit. 

As part of this vision, the chargers furnished by Tesla will be strategically deployed across BP Pulse's charging network, encompassing BP-affiliated entities such as Amaco Corp., Thorntons, and Ampm. These chargers will also grace third-party locations, including Hertz rental car establishments.

The fast-charging stations will find a home at vital TravelCenters of America locations. This is a project that had been initiated by the Westlake, Ohio-based company before it was acquired by the British energy behemoth for $1.3 billion in May. The vision originally entailed the installation of 1,000 chargers at 200 locations along major highways over the next five years.

BP Announcement

BP confirmed that the initial deployment of these charging units is slated to commence in key metropolitan areas, including Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., in the coming year.

"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 deliver an exceptional customer experience," emphasized BP Pulse CEO Richard Bartlett, underscoring the transformative potential of this collaboration.

For electric vehicle enthusiasts, finding a charging station conveniently and quickly has long been a paramount concern. The scarcity of charging infrastructure and the time-consuming nature of recharging compared to traditional fueling options have been primary pain points for EV drivers. 

In a survey by J.D. Power, customer satisfaction with public charging facilities hit an all-time low in August, underscoring the urgency of addressing these issues.

Tesla provides solutions

Currently, the United States boasts approximately 150,000 public charging ports, but only about 34,000 are designed for fast charging, as reported by the Department of Energy.

 Recognizing the pressing need for improvement, the federal government has unveiled a plan to invest $100 million in repairing and replacing 6,000 outdated or inoperative charging stations. 

Last November, Tesla extended an invitation to automakers and charging network operators, encouraging them to adopt the NACS charging connector and charge port in their equipment and vehicles. The response has been remarkable, with at least 15 prominent brands, including those under the Hyundai Motor Group umbrella and Jaguar, forging agreements with Tesla to implement the North America Charging Standard (NACS). 

As a result, the majority of these agreements grant access to 12,000 of Tesla's 19,000 Superchargers throughout North America, further cementing Tesla's role as a driving force in the evolution of electric vehicle infrastructure.