BP has agreed to purchase $100 million worth of Supercharger equipment from Tesla. In so doing, BP has become the first company to acquire Tesla’s DC fast-charging hardware for use in a third-party charging network.

The sale will benefit BP Pulse, the conglomerate’s electric vehicle (EV) charging business. BP Pulse plans to invest up to $1 billion in constructing a nationwide charging network by 2030, with $500 million allocated over the next two to three years.

Tesla’s equipment has the capability of charging at speeds up to 250 kW. It’s equipped with a Magic Dock connector to connect using either the standardized North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug from Tesla or a CCS Combo attachment compatible with most other EVs.

The announcement does not specify whether the deal encompasses Tesla’s updated V4 Superchargers, which are currently being introduced in the United States.

BP Pulse intends to commence installation of the new chargers at BP family of brands businesses next year. This includes TravelCenters of America, Thorntons, Ampm, and Amoco. It also includes third-party locations like Hertz rental car sites.

According to The Verge, the initial deployment sites include Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, DC.

Having already installed over 27,000 charging stations, BP Pulse plans to build more than 100,000 worldwide by 2030. Previously, the company had procured charging equipment from Tritium.

BP’s iteration of the Tesla Superchargers will utilize a software called Omega, which differs from Tesla’s own system.

Omega supports a Plug-and-Charge protocol that eliminates the need for card tapping or app activation. EV drivers can simply plug in, and their account will be automatically charged for the electricity used.

As BP purchases EV chargers from Tesla, it’s confirming Tesla’s status as the leader in EV charging technology. Over a dozen major automakers have gained access to Tesla’s Supercharger network since May.

However, in all of these deals, Tesla maintained the responsibility of building and maintaining charging stations. BP is now undertaking that responsibility in its deal.

Moreover, BP is the first company to pay Tesla licensing fees for using Supercharger equipment.

Image Source: BP, https://shorturl.at/bEV19