Oil and gas major BP has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with American car rental company Hertz to develop a network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across North America.
The EV charging hubs will be powered and managed by BP pulse, a brand for electrification and charging solution from BP.
BP pulse will also modify Hertz’s Omega software, which automates fleet charging while giving real-time visibility to EVs, chargers, and power usage. The customisation of the software will ensure Hertz’s fleet of electric rental cars are quickly and efficiently recharged between the rentals, stated BP.
According to BP, Hertz with its national footprint of locations in North America makes it ideal for BP pulse to develop and manage a network of fast-charging hubs. The charging stations will cater to Hertz customers such as taxi and ride sharing drivers along with the general public.
BP chief executive Bernard Looney said: “It’s brilliant to be joining forces with Hertz – quite simply, they are one of the biggest names on the road.
“Working together to deliver charging facilities and design solutions, we believe we can take the EV driving experience to the next level for US customers. And this is just the start for BP pulse in the United States.”
Hertz, with its fleet of tens of thousands of EVs, aims to electrify one-quarter of its fleet by the end of 2024.
Hertz CEO Stephen Scherr said: “Hertz is accelerating the adoption of electrification by investing in the largest rental fleet of electric vehicles in North America and expanding the availability of charging stations.
“We are excited to partner with bp pulse to create a national charging infrastructure for the Hertz EV fleet, thereby growing the number of charging options available to our customers and providing them with a premium electric experience and lower emission travel options.”
BP pulse plans to have more than 100,000 chargers installed globally by 2030, with nearly 90% of them being rapid or ultra-fast chargers.