BP Pulse to install EV chargers at M&S stores in the UK

BP Pulse, the supplier of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles based in Milton Keynes, England, is expanding its electric vehicle charging network in the United Kingdom. For this project, it has teamed up with Marks & Spencer, where the chargers are set to be installed.

BP Pulse said on Thursday, Dec. 8, that its EV charging business will build high-speed charging points for electric vehicles in about 70 Marks & Spencer stores. The company is scaling up the liquidating process of its fossil fuel assets to raise funds and invest in more renewable energy projects, as per Reuters.

The EV charger supplier is engaging more in such projects as energy companies around the world continue to push for decarbonization. It was revealed that the first EV charging site is set to open at two Marks & Spencer store locations, and these are the M&S Maidstone Eclipse and Southgate branches.

It was said that BP Pulse’s target is to install about 900 points in the next two years. Moreover, the company will add up to 40,000 kilowatt-hours of charging capacity within this period. The charger supplier’s plan is to invest as much as £1 billion or around $1.22 billion for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the U.K. by the year 2030.

This is not the first time that BP and the British retail company have joined forces. In 2005, they partnered to launch M&S Food stores at bp retail sites. In any case, over 250 bp pulse charge points are already in operation at more than 60 bp-operated forecourts that are also selling M&S Food.

The roll-out of the BP Pulse EV chargers at M&S outlets will expand the former’s network in the country. It will significantly grow the UK’s charging stations to serve the public as more and more people are turning to EV cars.

“We aim to provide fast, reliable, and convenient EV charging to our customers that fits in with ‎their busy lifestyles and so, we are excited to extend our relationship with M&S to put high-speed charge points at their stores, growing our network even further,” BP Pulse UK’s chief executive officer, Akira Kirton, said in a press release.

M&S’s operations director, Sacha Berendji, further stated, “At M&S we’re reshaping the business for sustainable future growth in every sense. From our award-winning Shwopping initiative to our Fill Your Own refill concept, EV charging is the latest feature to ensure we have a store estate fit for the future, to help our customers live lower carbon lives.”