Category Archives: BP Chargemaster

Can I save money with an electric car?

August 28, 2023BP Chargemaster, Charging, Charging, Cost of ownership, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Nissan, Shell, TeslaRepost

Electric vehicles are increasing in popularity but with the price of energy high, is it still cheaper to run an electric car than it is a petrol or diesel one? Here we weigh up the cost of going green.

By 2030, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is to be banned in the UK. Despite EVs making up more than half of all new cars sold, concerns remain around cost, range and whether the infrastructure is ready to achieve this target.

From April 2025 EVs will no longer be free from paying road tax. The removal of government grants, a higher list price than petrol and diesel, and the rising cost of refueling has left many wondering if making the switch to electric is financially worth it?

This article covers:

Related content: How to save money by going green

Are electric cars cheaper to buy than petrol cars?

Whether an electric car is more economical for you in the long run than an conventional fuel car, you need to consider a number of factors, which include:

the upfront list price
how much you intend to use the car
where you intend to charge it
insurance
maintenance costs

It’s Time to Go Green!

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BP Chargemaster lauds first 150kW ultra rapid charging hub in London

October 30, 2019BP Chargemaster, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

BP Chargemaster is laying claim to the first 150kW ultra-rapid charging hub in London as its nationwide roll out continues.

Four 150kW chargers have been installed at BP’s retail site in Hammersmith in London, making the site the first ultra-rapid charging hub in London.

The chargers join the rest of BP Chargemaster’s Polar network and are currently available on Free Vend for a limited time.

The chargers have both CHAedMO and CCS connectors.

The installs come as part of a wider roll out of ultra-rapid chargers, with a goal of 400 to be installed across the UK by 2021. The project was first announced at an industry event in May by Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO of downstream at BP.

The first two chargers were installed at a BP retail site, BP Cranford in Hounslow, in August.

BP Chargemaster’s Tom Callow said ultra-rapid charging will become “increasingly important” as EV adoption accelerates, particularly in urban areas due to fleets and private motorists without access to off-street parking at home.

“While our first two ultra-fast charging locations are within the M25, by the end of the year, we expect to have started to establish a nationwide network, with sites in England, Scotland and Wales.”

Read more: Current News

BP Chargemaster to install 200 rapid chargers at UK pubs

July 30, 2019BP Chargemaster, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

BP Chargemaster is to roll out up to 200 rapid chargers at pubs and restaurants run by Mitchells & Butlers across the UK.

The decision to roll out the chargers comes after trials at several of Mitchells & Butlers’ locations. Up to 50 chargers are expected to be installed by October 2019.

The 50kW Ultracharge chargers are to be installed with investment from BP Chargemaster and will be part of its Polar network. They will be available to be used on a pay-as-you-go or subscription basis.

In 2018, Marston’s Inns and Taverns partnered with Engenie to become the first UK pub company to roll out rapid chargers across its sites. This new announcement marks increased interest in rapid charging from UK pub companies.

David Newton, chief operating officer at BP Chargemaster, said the chargers will make driving across the country “even easier” and allow drivers to enjoy a break on a long journey.

“At this stage in the market, we are seeing electric vehicle drivers actively seek out locations that offer convenient charging, so we also expect to deliver additional footfall to sites that host our rapid chargers.”

Read more: Current News

BP Chargemaster bolsters charging range with new 150kW unit, confirms roll-out plans

June 21, 2019BP Chargemaster, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

BP Chargemaster has unveiled its new 150kW ultra-fast charger, which is to start being deployed across its Polar network.

Dubbed the Ultracharge 150, the charging point features both CCS and CHAdeMO connectors and will be capable of providing some 100 miles of range in 10 minutes.

The charging infrastructure owner also moved to confirm plans to deploy the chargers at BP forecourts throughout the UK over the next two years.

At an industry event last month, Tufan Erginbilgic, chief executive of Downstream BP, revealed plans to install 400 of the chargers by the end of 2021, with around 100 being installed across 50 forecourts by the end of this year.

The installations are to be financed by BP Chargemaster, which now counts more than 7,000 charging points across its Polar network.

Read more: Current News

BP to ramp up ultra-rapid EV chargers at forecourts this year

May 19, 2019BP Chargemaster, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

BP Chargemaster is to install 100 rapid chargers across 50 of its petrol station forecourts by the end of this year.

Installs will begin in July, with the target of installing 400 150kW chargers by 2021.

Announced at an industry event this week by Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO of downstream at BP, the project was first teased earlier this year after BP Chargemaster opened a new rapid EV charging hub in Milton Keynes.

Milton Keynes 'Mushrooms' Charging Hub (Image: T. Larkum) — Milton Keynes ‘Mushrooms’ Charging Hub (Image: T. Larkum)

The chargers will add to BP’s Polar network, which currently boasts 400 rapid chargers across the UK, effectively doubling its numbers.

Read more: Current News

BP Chargemaster opens ‘largest’ universal rapid charging hub

April 1, 2019BP Chargemaster, Charging, Electric Cars, Milton Keynes, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

[Of course, some of you will know about this place from my blog in January about the Milton Keynes Mushrooms]

BP Chargemaster has opened a new rapid EV charging hub in Milton Keynes, claiming it to be the largest of its kind in the UK.

The hub was developed by Milton Keynes Council and contractor Ringway as part of the Go Ultra Low City programme. It was funded as part of a £9 million investment package from a £40 million pot distributed to various local authorities by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).

The site hosts eight 50kW rapid chargers that any EV can hook up to and charge from. A universal charging hub gives drivers confidence that they can charge their vehicles and that the infrastructure is there, BP Chargemaster’s Tom Callow told Current±, adding that hubs of this size also help raise consumer awareness.

“It’s a shame if you’re a driver of a different type of EV. You want the kind of experience where you can turn up somewhere and have a really good chance of charging. So it was really important to have chargers that work on every type of EV,” Callow added, continuing that it gives an almost “Tesla-type of experience” that will help “ease people’s minds.”

Over 500 EVs have used the hub since it went live, with the site providing access to the facilities at the main Coachway building, including a café for drivers to pass time in while their vehicle charges.

Read more: Current News

Milton Keynes Mushrooms: A New Generation of Charging Stations

January 14, 2019BMW, BP Chargemaster, Charging, Electric Cars, i3, i3 94Ah, Milton Keynes, News, Reviews and Comment, OpinionTrevor Larkum

Driving from Northampton to Surrey to visit my family over Christmas I was due to go past the new Milton Keynes Charging Hub so took the opportunity to call in.

The Hub was developed by Milton Keynes Council with a government grant, with the charging infrastructure provided by BP Chargemaster. I had heard on social media that the hub was recently completed. However there’s been nothing in the mainstream press about it – I’m guessing there’ll be an official launch soon.

It is quite difficult to find. It is tucked away at the far corner of the Coachway bus station (near Junction 14 of the M1) and there’s no signage in place yet. There were fresh road markings in place though.

The location is pretty good, not just because of proximity to the motorway. Being co-located with the bus station means that while you wait to charge there’s easy access on foot to its cafe and toilets (though you have to pay 30p for the latter).

The hub consists of a triangular island with 8 rapid chargers around its edge (why not 9?) all covered over with three large concrete ‘mushroom’ canopies for rain protection. I was there mid-week and it was pretty quiet, however two other EVs did call in even during the short time I was there topping up my i3.

Charging is through BP Chargemaster’s Polar network so requires either the Polar Instant app or Polar Plus subscription as described previously.

The Hub is a great idea and seems to be implemented well. It also gives an exciting view into the future of organised EV charging, being potentially a bit like using an airport lounge. It represents another nail in the coffin of fossil fuel motoring – who would want to relax and eat at a petrol station?!

If there’s a criticism it’s just the usual one of uneven rapid charger allocation, and one can hardly blame MK council for taking every opportunity to support EVs. But for sure MK alone has more rapid chargers than anywhere else in the UK, including the entire country of Wales.

Response to BEIS Committee report on electric vehicles

November 1, 2018BP Chargemaster, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesRepost

Following the release of the Commons’ Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee (BEIS) report into the future of electric vehicles published today, a number of interested parties have responded.

On the whole, the response has been positive, with the main criticism being that the government needs to be doing a lot more now to boost the roll-out of charging points. One dissenting voice comes from SMMT.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive:

“Government’s 2040 ambition was already extremely challenging, so to fast-track that by eight years would be nigh on impossible. We said we need world class infrastructure and world class incentives to have any chance of delivering so the recent cuts to the Plug-in Car Grant and lack of charging facilities – both of which are severely criticised by the Committee – show just how difficult it would be to accelerate this transition.

“Zero emission vehicles make up just 0.6% of the market meaning consumer appetite would have to grow by some 17,000% in just over a decade. This is unrealistic and rejects the evidence put forward by SMMT on behalf of the industry, which is investing billions into these technologies but which recognises consumers need greater confidence and support if they are to buy these vehicles in the numbers we all want.”

David Martell, Chief Executive of BP Chargemaster, said:

“We welcomed the invitation from the BEIS committee to present evidence to its enquiry and we are pleased to see many of our concerns are addressed in its findings.

“The largest factor limiting the growth of the UK EV market today is the number of electric cars physically available. There is probably sufficient demand for around 100,000 new EV registrations in 2018, but that number is likely to be around 60,000 due to supply constraints.

“In terms of charging infrastructure, while the committee endorses the provisions in the Automated and Electric Vehicle Act 2018 to ‘ensure interoperability’, it ignores the fact that this ease of access already exists thanks to the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulations 2017, which mandate ‘ad hoc’, pay-as-you-go access to all public charging points – so the aim of interoperability has already been achieved with existing legislation.

“The committee’s finding that EV charging infrastructure is ‘not fit for purpose’ does not correlate with the overall customer experience and appears to be based on outdated information, and figures relating only to publicly-funded charging points, ignoring the fact that the majority of new infrastructure is being privately-funded. BP Chargemaster will continue to expand its affordable, reliable and convenient charging network over the coming years, to make driving an EV as easy as possible.”

BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney said:

“The Government’s electric vehicle strategy needs to move from one based on visions to one based on actions. If India, China and Scotland feel able to set a target of banning new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032, then the UK should be brave enough to meet that challenge as well…”

BP to roll-out electric chargers widely over next 12 months

October 14, 2018BP Chargemaster, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

BP customers in the UK can expect to access BP Chargemaster chargers rolling out at scale on forecourts over the next 12 months, on both company owned and dealer channels.

David Newton, chief operating officer at BP Chargemaster, told delegates at this week’s Forecourt Trader Electric Track Day that the company’s aim was to manage the energy transition and changing customer demand by supporting opportunities for customers to reduce their emissions.

“BP Chargemaster and BP believe that to accelerate the adoption of EVs, customers will require convenient access to fast and ultra-fast charging,” he said. “And we believe our retail network is well positioned to provide this access.”

Chargemaster Rapid Chargers next to Milton Keynes Central railway station parking (Image: T. Larkum)

He warned the move to electric mobility was a significant challenge and potentially a threat to the existing forecourt business, and needed careful thought by the industry as to how it would be achieved.

“Collaboration is key,” he said. “We will work pro-actively with the independent dealer community to develop mutually beneficial offers and propositions which will meet consumer demand – for now, and for the future.”

Chargemaster and BP to boost UK EV charging network

August 11, 2018BP Chargemaster, Charging, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentTrevor Larkum

Chargemaster is offering to install 4,000 plug-in vehicle charging points at AA hotels and B&Bs for free across the UK to boost infrastructure for drivers.

The strategic partnership between the AA, Chargemaster and its new parent company BP, will see hotels fitted with 50kW rapid chargers for any EV driver to use on the POLAR network.

The first hotel to benefit from the offer is Sandford Springs Hotel in Kingsclere, Hampshire.

Chargemaster will work with any AA-inspected establishments interested in taking up the offer to determine the best charging points for their location

Research by Chargemaster shows that 90% of EV drivers will seek out destinations that have charging points over those that don’t, meaning that having a charging point provides an additional draw for hotels while the EV market continues to develop.

David Martell, chief executive of Chargemaster, said: “We believe that within the next five years, all hotels will offer EV charging, just like they provide Wi-Fi today.

“Our offer for AA hotels is a great opportunity for hotel owners and operators to get a competitive advantage with a facility that could attract hundreds of thousands of customers in the coming years.”