Volkswagen Group and BP will join forces to accelerate the roll-out of ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the UK and Europe.

The two companies will install new 150kW chargers at existing BP retail sites, as part of the partnership. They have signed a memorandum of understanding for their collaboration and intend to finalise agreements in the coming months.

The new partnership will make BP the car maker’s official charging partner, enabling the integration of BP’s charging network into VW Group vehicles to make finding and paying for charging simpler.

Thomas Schmall, member of the board of Volkswagen Group and CEO of Volkswagen Group Components, said: “Ultra-fast charging is the key enabler for e-mobility and therefore a main pillar for Volkswagen´s transformation.

“Together with strong partners like BP, we take this important matter into our hands and will build up to 18,000 new chargers in Europe. That is about a third of the estimated ultra-fast charging demand in 2025.”

The partnership is expected to provide EV drivers with greater confidence in being able to access nearby, reliable, quality charging options. BP estimates approximately 90% of people in the UK and Germany live within a 20-minute drive of one of its sites.

Emma Delaney, BP’s executive vice president, customers and products, said: “Enabling the rapid expansion of electric vehicles is core to Bp’s plans to grow our convenience and mobility business, and supports our net zero ambition.

“Partnering with Volkswagen Group we intend to address a key concern for people considering buying an EV: range anxiety.

“Together we can provide drivers in the UK and Europe with the fast, reliable and convenient charging solutions they need to feel more confident about making the switch.”

Read more: SMART TRANSPORT

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BP Pulse has unveiled new plans to rollout ultra-fast charging hubs across the UK, with these to be developed in partnership with the Electric Vehicle Network (EVN).

The first of these sites – which will have 24 ultra-fast charging points – is to open later this year, with “a significant number” of rapid and ultra-fast charging locations expected to be developed.

The rollout will include “state of the art” hubs of between six to twelve chargers as well as e-forecourts with up to 24 ultra-fast 300kW chargepoints alongside on-site solar PV and battery storage systems. The e-forecourts will have both retail and convenience facilities for the drivers while they wait for the cars to be charged.

BP Pulse has signed an agreement with energy efficiency investment firm Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SEEIT) – which made a £50 million investment commitment to EVN as its development partner in EV charging infrastructure in August – for the rollout.

The EV charging locations are to be developed and constructed by EVN, contracted through a 20-year, fixed price CPI inflated Energy Service Agreement. EVN is also to manage the operation and maintenance of all the sites.

Matteo de Renzi, CEO of BP Pulse, said the new hubs will complement the company’s existing plans to launch a number of ultra-fast chargers on BP’s forecourts, adding that “it’s exciting to be launching this new additional option for drivers”.

It follows BP Pulse announcing it has made £2 million available to deliver “radical improvement” in the reliability of older UK electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

Jonathan Maxwell, CEO of SEET, said that EV sales are at an “inflection point”, adding that “this investment, in partnership with the Electric Vehicle Network, is a significant commitment to EV charging infrastructure in the UK”.

EVN is currently planning to develop a further c.400 EV charging sites, with SEEIT having the right of first refusal to provide an additional c.£150 million in the next 24-36 months.

Read more: CURRENT

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The Motor Fuel Group (MFG) is to install c.3,000 150kW and 350kW electric vehicle (EV) chargers at its forecourts by the end of 2030 in a new commitment to electrification.

This is to be enabled by a c.£400 million investment, with the rollout of the chargers to all suitable remaining locations to be fully completed by 2035.

To date, MFG – which operates refuelling forecourts under the BP, Shell, Esso, Texaco, JET and Murco fuel brands – has installed EV chargers at 108 of its sites through third parties. In October 2019, for example, IONITY installed two 350kW chargers at a Scottish forecourt owned by MFG, laying claim to the fastest charging station in the country.

Alongside this existing network, MFG will self-fund, build and operate its own EV charging hubs, with each hub to consist of between four and eight ultra-rapid 150kW EV chargers.

These will be augmented with 350kW chargers as vehicle battery technology improves, the company said.

In 2021, it will build EV charging hubs at 40 sites, offering over 200 150kW chargers. The initial focus will be on major trunk roads and urban areas.

From 2022 onwards, MFG plans to build at least 50 additional EV charging hubs per year, with a significant number of these to be on the strategic road network.

William Bannister, CEO, MFG, said the new investment will “help keep UK motorists on the move”, adding that he is “looking forward to engaging with government to ensure this investment best meets the national EV infrastructure requirement to help us all make a contribution to ensuring Britain meets its net zero target by 2050”.

Read more: CURRENT

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• bp and Volkswagen Group agree to strategic collaboration on EV charging in Europe
• Plan to develop ultra-fast EV charging network at bp retail sites
• bp’s charging networks to be integrated into VW Group vehicles

Volkswagen and bp today announced they intend to work together on extending and speeding up the deployment of ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities at bp retail sites across the UK, Germany and elsewhere in Europe.

Extensive ultra-fast charging networks are seen by both companies as essential to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. The companies today signed a memorandum of understanding for their collaboration and intend to finalize agreements in coming months. This would bring together two leading global players in mobility to develop a network of ultra-fast chargers at convenient and high-quality locations – bp sites, and Aral sites in Germany.

The partnership should give EV drivers greater confidence in being able to access nearby, reliable, quality charging options. bp estimates approximately 90% of people in the UK and Germany live within a 20-minute drive of a bp or Aral site.

The agreement would also make bp the Volkswagen Group’s EV charging partner, with the integration of bp’s charging network into VW Group vehicles to make finding and paying for charging fast and simple. The network would also be available for other EV customers as part of the bp pulse network (Aral pulse in Germany), improving access to ultra-fast charging for EV drivers more widely.

Emma Delaney, bp’s executive vice president, customers and products, said: “Enabling the rapid expansion of electric vehicles is core to bp’s plans to grow our convenience and mobility business, and supports our net zero ambition. Partnering with Volkswagen Group – one of the world’s great automotive companies – we intend to address a key concern for people considering buying an EV: range anxiety. Together we can provide drivers in the UK and Europe with the fast, reliable and convenient charging solutions they need to feel more confident about making the switch. By deploying ultra-fast charging, rapidly and at large scale, we can establish a leading position and help accelerate the take-up of EVs.”

Thomas Schmall, Member of the Board of Volkswagen Group and CEO of Volkswagen Group Components, said: “Ultra-fast charging is the key enabler for e-mobility and therefore a main pillar for Volkswagen´s transformation. Together with strong partners like bp we take this important matter into our hands and will build up to 18,000 new chargers in Europe. That is about 1/3 of the estimated ultra-fast charging demand in 2025.”

Electrification is at the heart of bp’s convenience and mobility strategy and the company aims to grow its network of public EV charging points by 2030 to over 70,000 worldwide. bp pulse is already the most used EV charging network in the UK1 and plans to have around 250 ultrafast chargers operating at bp retail sites by the end of this year. In Germany, Aral pulse is also already rolling out ultrafast charging points across its retail sites – expecting to have 500 installed by year end.

Read more: bp

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Company car drivers charging an electric vehicle (EV) at home could save up to £1,250 a year by choosing the right tariff, says Rightcharge.co.uk.

With energy prices rising in the UK from 01 April 2021, many households will be paying larger electricity utility bills, including those drivers who charge their company vehicles at home.

However, the vehicle home charger and energy comparison site says that this is the perfect opportunity for fleet drivers to find more generously priced EV-friendly energy tariffs that cover charging for fully-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles – providing a combined home and vehicle charge saving on household energy costs.

For example, a fleet driver covering 20,000 miles annually would expect to pay £2,344 on a standard variable tariff from one of the big six energy suppliers, which would include both household energy use and £1,300 for the charging of the vehicle.

From April that total will increase to £2,599 a year, including £1,454 for charging the same car, representing an annual price increase faced by the driver of £154 for just the charging alone, potentially impacting any financial benefit-in-kind (BIK) taxation gains drivers may have gained from swapping from a conventional diesel car to an EV.

Yet users who switch to a lower-cost alternative EV energy tariff on or after April 1, could find themselves paying only £1,349 a year – with the charging element representing just £459 of that amount – says Rightcharge.

This represents a massive saving of £995 on charging a vehicle at home, with an additional £255 saved on household energy bills. That’s a total saving of £1,250 a year.

Charlie Cook, founder of Rightcharge, said: “EV-friendly energy tariffs are so incredibly cheap in comparison to a standard tariff, that a homeowner can actually start charging their car at home and reduce their total energy bill at the same time – effectively getting from A to B for free.

“A fleet driver doing 20,000 miles per year can save £1,250. That’s a huge saving EV fleet drivers could be making by simply switching.”

Rightcharge allows users to compare EV-friendly energy tariffs by taking their car into account as well as their home, helping customers to minimise costs for running EVs – plus special payment available for fleets. Rightcharge also helps users to select the correct charger for vehicle and home offering.

Cook said: “We want to help drivers minimise their EV costs – and we suspect many just don’t realise what they can save. Our price comparison website points them in the right direction.”

Read more: FleetNews

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Considering an EV, but not sure how charging on the road works? Here’s what you need to know, says Darren Cassey.

Interest in electric vehicles is rising rapidly, particularly since the government announced petrol and diesel cars will be banned from sale from 2030.

However, the idea of switching to an electric vehicle can be daunting, with all this talk of charging and ‘range anxiety’.

If you can charge your vehicle at home, ensuring you have a full ‘tank’ every time you leave the house, public charge points won’t be too much of a concern.

But if you do a lot of long journeys, or you can’t charge at home, using public charge points will be a vital – if currently alien – prospect.

With this in mind, we’ve put together a simple guide to show that while EV charging can seem like a minefield, once you’re all set up, it’s not much different to filling your car with petrol.

Here’s what you need to know…

What is a public charge point?
A public charge point is the petrol station of the EV world. It’s a place where EV owners can go to charge their vehicle, and they’re usually located in convenient locations, such as motorway service stations, hotel car parks and supermarkets. In some cases, they’re also available on residential streets, something that is becoming increasingly popular.

How do I find one?
The best way is to use a site like Zap-Map (zap-map.com), which provides a map of pretty much every connector in the UK.

However, if you have an account with a specific provider, it will almost certainly have an app that will show its own charge points.

How do they work?
The process is similar to using the ‘pay at pump’ feature of a petrol station, though it can vary slightly between providers.

You simply drive up to the charge point and follow the instructions on the screen to set up payment, then plug your vehicle in using the cable on site or using your own.

It’s not always quite that simple, though.

There are numerous providers, each with their own app.

The vast majority should now allow for contactless payment, but it’s usually cheaper if you sign up for an account and pay through this. Some services require a monthly subscription fee too.

How much does it cost?
Here’s where it can get complicated.

Charging from home is the most cost-effective way of topping up your batteries, but when it comes to public charge points, it can vary depending on the provider and the speed of the charge – think of it like comparing the price of a litre of fuel at different forecourts, as well as the difference between premium and regular fuel.

As an example, BP Pulse charges 12p per kWh to subscription members, which some charge points costing nothing at all – membership costs £7.85 per month, with the first three months free.

However, if you ‘pay as you go’, there’s a minimum spend of £1.20 with prices starting at 18p per kWh.

Plus, using a contactless payment method sees prices start at 25p per kWh with a minimum spend of £1.50.

Are all chargers compatible with all cars?
No, so you’ll have to make sure your car is compatible with the charge point you’re heading to. In truth, you’ll be unlucky if you head to a location you can’t use, but it’s worth noting, just in case.

When searching on a site like Zap-Map, you can filter by connection type so it only shows places you can charge.

Which provider is best?

If you have a Tesla, great news, because the firm’s Supercharger network is consistently voted the best in the UK. However, drivers of non-Tesla models can’t use them.

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Solihull Observer

Executives from National Grid and home battery firm Moixa discuss the challenges

It has been clear for a while now that electric vehicles are coming. If the sales charts and chatter on social media weren’t clues enough, the UK government’s announcement of a 2030 ban on the sale of new ICE cars is the future writ large in bold font. But as Brits start to buy more EVs, many people are worried about the infrastructure to charge them and whether it can cope.

Will the UK’s transport network give us the flexibility we currently enjoy from our cars? In the latest of our Autocar Business Live webinars, sponsored by NewMotion, some of the fog was cleared by our guests: Graeme Cooper, National Grid’s project director for transport decarbonisation, and Ben Fletcher, EV project lead at Moixa, a clean-tech software company working specifically with home batteries.

Some EVs, such as the Nissan Leaf, can serve as a storage medium. Will all cars act as storage devices in the future?

Fletcher said: “This is known as vehicle-to-grid [charging]. The car can take power from the grid or provide it back into the house. There are huge advantages to this, but there are a number of challenges around it. There are some hardware costs – it isn’t just a normal charge point, so that’s a bit more expensive – and there’s also a different way that the driver thinks of the vehicle. They need to be incentivised to be plugging in their car at all times, rather than just when they want it to be taking a charge.”

Cooper added: “There’s societal behaviour with this. I’m three years and 40,000 miles into EV ownership, and when I first had it, I plugged it in every night; now I only plug it about once a week. And if it’s not plugged in, it’s not visible and not controllable.

“We need behavioural scientists to look at this: when you ask people when they use their car, it’s 5.30 to 7.30 on a cold, wet winter’s commute. When does the grid most likely need power out of the battery? At 5.30 to 7.30 on a cold, wet winter’s day. Is this [vehicle-to-grid] going to be big or small? I think the jury is out on that. But one thing I would say is that flexibility is going to be critical. If we’ve got more variable generators like wind or solar, what you need is consumption that turns up or down when that is happening.

Why won’t there be blackouts?

Cooper answered: “Because we [National Grid] are a monopoly, we work to a standard that’s administered by Ofgem, the regulator, and we live up to a 99.99987% reliability; that’s seven seconds a year. When we look forward to what’s coming – more EVs, more electrification of heat – yes, the grid and the energy market will change. But this is a managed transition that doesn’t happen overnight. So we plan for it, we watch for it, we even advise: The people in the National Grid Electricity System Operator do a forward forecast every year called the Future Energy Scenarios that says what we think is coming and how we manage it. The uptake we’re seeing in electric cars now isn’t a surprise.

Is there enough time before 2030 to get it all ready?

Fletcher said: “As somebody who has been involved with the EV market for quite a long time now, what’s interesting is that the ‘hockey stick’ we see with the vehicles [slow growth of sales morphing into rapid uptake] is actually following a similar trend that we see in the number of charge points that are out there. The more people buy EVs, the greater the market there is for people to be charging those cars.

Cooper added: “By 2030, we will have 40GW of off-shore [energy generation capacity] installed in the UK. That’s an additional 30GW on top of what we already have today. Now, that in itself means we need more smart consumption to match that, so the two things go lock-step together. There will be the right wires to do off-shore wind and the right wires to do EV charging. The energy market will grow because of electrifying more things.

“The government has a policy called Project Rapid, which is high-power, on-route charging. They also have £950 million funding in place, and that’s to make sure that at every motorway service area in England, there’s adequate futureproofed capacity for everybody to go clean transport. You will start to see futureproofed grid capacity going into these services.”

What speed does my home charger need to provide?

Cooper said: “If you’re thinking about fuelling an EV like you would a petrol car, then all of this is lost on you. Cars are stationary for 96% of the time, so what you actually want to do is charge the car while it’s parked – so overnight or while you’re in an office. Charging a car fast is actually the wrong thing to do. I come home and once a week, I plug the car in and it charges at 7kW. By the morning, the car is full.”

Fletcher agreed: “You should always be doing something else while your car is charging. So the opportunity gain you get between a 22kW charger and 7kW charger is pretty small, because most people sleep overnight and that’s the time it will take to charge. I’ve never found a [charging] point where 7kW wasn’t adequate for what I needed to do with the car.”

Read more: AUTOCAR

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