BP Chooses Tritium For Next Move Toward Global EV Charging Expansion

Fueling its plan to widely expand its electric vehicle recharging network, U.K.-based oil giant bp has entered a multi-year agreement with Tritium DCFC Ltd., a leading developer and manufacturer of direct current fast chargers for EVs, the companies announced Monday.

The deal calls for Tritium to provide and initial order of just under 1,000 chargers and related services in bp’s markets in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand according to a release.

Just last month bp pulse, the oil giant’s EV charging business, announced a plan to triple its number of EV charging points in the U.K to 16,000 by 2030, spending ₤1 billion or about $1.30 billion over 10 years. This latest move represents an expansion of that plan beyond the U.K. to include the two nations with close ties to Great Britain.

The energy company’s rapid recharging strategy is in line with its goal to be a net zero emissions company by 2050 or sooner and is aimed at an expected explosion in EV adoption over the next three decades.

The bp Energy Outlook Rapid Transition Scenario estimate predicts as many as 1 billion electrified cars and trucks in use globally by 2040 with EVs accounting for 80% of passenger cars in use by 2050.

“I’m delighted that with this new global agreement with Tritium, it will help bp pulse deliver its mission to provide fast, reliable charging for EV drivers and to accelerate the roll-out of the charging infrastructure needed as the world transitions to decarbonise road transport,” said Richard Bartlett, Senior Vice President, bp pulse, in a statement.

Founded in 2001, Tritium has recently seen major developments of its own. In December, the company announced an agreement with Shell to provide DC fast chargers to its business operations in Europe, South Africa, Asia, the Middle East and North America towards Shell’s goal to operate 500,000 charge points by 2025 and 2,500,000 by 2030.

In January the Australia-based company went public on the NASDAQ exchange. That move was followed by February’s announcement of a new manufacturing plant in Lebanon, Tenn. with production expected in the third quarter of this year. The new plant will include six production lines to build Tritium fast chargers, generating more than 500 jobs to the region over the next five years, according to the company.

This latest deal with bp represents another forward step for Tritium as it seeks to expand its global presence and greater availability of EV fast chargers.

“The electrification of transportation is entering an incredible era when major companies like bp are providing critical support to transition the world to cleaner more reliable transportation,” said Tritium CEO Jane Hunter in a statement. “We’re thrilled to be working with bp to create greater global access to fast charging in support of their mission to become a net zero company by 2050 and to be a leader in helping the world get to net zero emissions.”

The companies would not reveal the value of the agreement announced Monday but that value could grow along if bp’s overall goal of expanding its global EV recharging business includes Tritium chargers.