bp pulse, oil and gas company bp's electric vehicle (EV) charging arm, acquired the freehold of a major truck stop in the UK city of Kent as part of its strategy to create a European EV charging network, the company announced on Thursday.
The British company plans to transform the site with mega-watt EV chargers for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), and the first mega-watt chargers are expected to be installed in 2026, the company said in a statement.
The site is located close to Dover, the UK’s busiest ferry port, and LeShuttle Freight via the Eurotunnel terminal, where 3.5 million HGVs cross the English Channel annually, it added.
Commenting on the acquisition, Stefan von Dobschuetz, general manager of bp pulse Europe, said: “For fleet operators to consider going electric, they must be confident that the infrastructure is in place to support them.”
“That is why we are thrilled to have secured the land at a crucial site near Dover as we strive to meet the evolving needs of HGV operators transitioning to EVs,” Dobschuetz added.
When the EV chargers are installed, it will enable a link from the UK to bp pulse’s German charging corridors, a pivotal step in the company’s aim to establish a comprehensive Europe-wide network of EV charging infrastructure for HGVs.
The 21-acre Ashford International Truckstop already offers 660 secure parking bays and convenience services for HGV drivers.
By Handan Kazanci
Anadolu Agency
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