bp pulse today announces that it has opened its first EV charging hub[1] as part of its exclusive agreement to roll out EV charging at M&S stores across the UK signed in 2022. The hub, located at the M&S store in Cheshunt, is the first of a number that are planned to be rolled out across M&S stores in the UK.
The Cheshunt hub features 10 EV charging bays – four ultra-fast 150kW and six rapid 50kW. One of the ultra-fast charging bays is extra-wide to ensure customers who need it have extra room to charge.
The launch of this new hub – and the subsequent planned rollout across more stores in the M&S estate – reflects bp pulse’s approach of deploying high speed, on-the-go charging infrastructure at convenient, strategic locations for its customers. This may include on land owned by longstanding partners such as M&S, new dedicated EV charging sites like the bp pulse Gigahub which opened at the NEC in Birmingham last year or on bp retail sites.
The bp and M&S partnership dates back to 2005 when the first M&S Food store opened on a bp forecourt. Today there are over 300 partnership stores across bp’s network, combining M&S’s high-quality food offer with bp’s expertise in ‘on-the-go’ convenience. Over 150 of these stores now also have bp pulse charging bays.
Akira Kirton, CEO at bp pulse UK, said: “The opening of our EV charging hub at the M&S store in Cheshunt is a huge milestone; the first of a strategic rollout programme. This is a fantastic option for M&S shoppers, enabling them to top up their EV battery while they enjoy shopping in a brilliant retail destination.
“Convenience is a hugely important part of our aim to develop the UK’s best on-the-go charging network, and this is a compelling example of how we’re offering fast and reliable EV charging where it is convenient for our customers.”
Sacha Berendji, director of operations at M&S, said: “Investing in our stores to make them bigger, better, brighter destinations for the broadest range of customers, including more family shoppers, is a key part of our strategy to Reshape M&S for Growth. EV charging will become an increasingly important part of the store offer. The new Cheshunt hub includes ultra-fast bp pulse charge points, making it quick and convenient for customers to charge while they shop. It’s also an important part of our Plan A roadmap to Net Zero by 2040.”
The rollout of EV charging hubs across the M&S estate is part of bp pulse’s strategy to significantly expand its charging network and support the growth of the UK’s EV infrastructure.
While bp pulse is delivering the charging infrastructure drivers want and need, barriers remain including securing high-power grid connections and planning permissions.
[1] A hub, for bp pulse, is a site with at least six charging bays
