Unveiling the UK's largest public EV charging hub

The EV Network and bp pulse unveil the UK's largest public EV charging hub at the NEC Birmingham

• New Gigahub™ at the NEC boasts 30 ultra-fast 150KW and 150 fast 7kW charge points enabling 180 EVs to charge simultaneously.

• Sits at the heart of the national motorway network, located at the UK's leading live events business.

• Delivers the right charging speeds, in the right location, owing to an innovative partnership that brings together bp pulse, The EV Network and the NEC.

bp pulse, The EV Network (EVN) and NEC Group, are proud to announce the launch the UK’s largest public electric vehicle (EV) charging hub on the NEC Campus in the West Midlands. This Gigahub™ was officially opened today (7th September 2023) by The Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP.

All visitors to the Gigahub™ will have access to a new Starbucks Coffee drive-thru, combining fast charging with convenience to deliver the services EV drivers want while they wait.

This site is a testament to the power of collaboration in advancing the UK’s EV charging infrastructure and overcoming barriers to infrastructure development:

The EV Network (EVN) as investor for this multimillion-pound project, designed, developed, and constructed the EV charging Gigahub™ after signing a long-term contract with the NEC Group to bring EV charging infrastructure to the entire campus and working with bp pulse on several projects launched throughout 2023.

bp pulse worked closely with EV Network to ensure the Gigahub™ provides the best possible experience for its customers. As one of the largest charge point operators in the UK, it will use its expertise to operate the new hub. bp pulse is delivering the right charging speeds, in the right locations and focussing on ultra-fast and rapid charge points to provide a comprehensive EV charging network across the country and it plans to roll out hundreds of hubs by 2030 in urban areas, on trunk roads and motorways and at destinations such as restaurants, retail parks and hotels.

The NEC Group’s strategic involvement provides the essential foundation for the project – the land. The locational benefits of its real estate at the heart of the national motorway network, make it the ideal space to accommodate the UK’s largest EV charging hub.

Paul Thandi CBE, DL Chairman of NEC Group, said:

“We are proud to contribute to the UK Government’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy. Working in collaboration with EVN and bp pulse, the opening of our EV charging hub provides NEC Campus customers, commuters, and those working for local regional or national businesses, a reliable and convenient way to recharge and support a lower carbon travel future.

“This strategic collaboration and initiative strengthen our destination offer, demonstrate our commitment to reducing the impact our business practices and our Masterplan credentials have on the environment, and ultimately supports a reduction in carbon emissions.”

Akira Kirton, vice president of bp pulse UK, said:

“The transition to electric vehicles is evolving at pace which is why bp pulse is focussed on accelerating the development of the UK’s EV infrastructure, delivering the right charging speeds, in the right locations and investing up to £1 billion to do so.

“This new, nationally significant bp pulse Gigahub™ at the heart of the UK’s road network, is another great example of our strategy in action.

“We plan to roll out hundreds of hubs this decade in places EV drivers needs them - urban areas, on trunk roads and motorways and at destinations such as restaurants, retail parks and hotels.”

Reza Shaybani, CEO, and co-founder of the EV Network, said:

“The launch of the UK’s largest Gigahub™ is a massive game changer for EVN and a huge step forward for UK electric vehicle fast charging. The EVN team responding to the public demand for more - charging and we are responding with hundreds of millions of pounds of new investment and the very latest technology.

“EVN has already built dozens of sites across the UK, but the successful completion of this new project launches us onto a much more ambitious growth path, as the leading business in our sector with a range of exciting new partners."

“The NEC was a perfect location that is not only geographically key, but of national significance, to support the EV charging landscape. EVN secured 6.5MVA grid connection, to support the entire infrastructure. The strategic placement and impressive scale of this charging hub within the UK’s transport infrastructure offers reassuring support to drivers journeying between cities.

“Our long-term relationship with both the NEC Group and bp pulse ensures this is not just an investment for the site’s visitors but a transformative step towards bolstering the entire EV charging infrastructure of the UK.

“At EVN we are excited to invest £100M in EV Infrastructure projects this year, and we aim to invest a further £300M equity by 2025.”

Alexander Walsh, Senior Managing Director at Blackstone, said:

“The opening of the UK’s largest EV charging hub at the NEC is a significant step forward as more drivers across the UK move to electric vehicles, with sites like this playing an important role in supporting the UK’s energy transition.

“Blackstone has been invested in the NEC since 2018, and this development demonstrates the positive impact private investment can have in driving innovation and creating green jobs, and we’re proud to be backing the industries of the future in the West Midlands and beyond that are helping build a more sustainable future.”

About bp

bp’s purpose is to reimagine energy for people and our planet. It has set out an ambition to be a net zero company by 2050, or sooner and help the world get to net zero, and a strategy for delivering on that ambition. For more information visit bp.com.

About bp pulse

bp pulse is bp’s electric vehicle (EV) charging business. It is one of the leading rapid and ultra-fast public EV charging networks in the UK and operates the largest number of sites with ultra-fast charging in Germany.

bp is backing Britain with plans to invest up to £18 billion in the UK energy system by 2030. This includes up to £1 billion for EV charging infrastructure. This is bp pulse’s seventh charging hub delivered this year – including its second biggest charging hub at Kettering. It plans to roll out hundreds of hubs by 2030 in urban areas, on trunk roads and motorways and at destinations such as restaurants, retail parks and hotels.

About NEC Group

NEC Group is the UK’s leading live events business with over forty-five years of world-class expertise in venue and destination management. Every year, millions come together at five of the UK’s leading business, leisure, and entertainment venues which come under the NEC Group’s portfolio - the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), International Convention Centre (ICC), Vox Conference Venue (Vox), Resorts World Arena and Utilita Arena Birmingham. The five venues offer some of the best-connected real estate in Europe.   For more information on NEC Group ESG, please visit necgroup.co.uk/sustainability

About The EV Network

The EV Network (EVN) is a leading EV charging infrastructure company with a mission to deliver a UK wide network of ultra-fast EV charging hubs.

We address the challenges faced by both landlords and charge point operators through our turnkey design, development, construction, and investment solutions.

EVN are a specialist company, offering ‘Infrastructure as a service’ (IaaS). Backed by one of the world’s largest sustainable funds, EVN have raised £400M to invest in property and charging infrastructure. Working in partnership with many blue-chip CPO’s partners to support and speed up the transition to electric.

Further information can be found at www.theevnetwork.com

Notes to Editor:

What is a bp pulse Gigahub™?

Developed and owned by bp pulse, Gigahub™ is a brand name for some of our large electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging hubs. It’s not about number of charge points per site. Nor a focus on the gig-economy specifically, it’s simply a brand for our larger-scale hubs.

The Gigahub™ is designed to meet the needs of the growing EV market by providing fast and convenient charging for drivers on the go. Offering some of the fastest charging speeds available, for example, a bp pulse 150kw charger is capable of charging up to 100 miles of range in around 15 minutes depending on the vehicle, its charge management software, its battery, the weather and driving conditions.

We are future proofing our network to ensure that the latest charging technology we’re putting in the ground today is ready for the EV batteries of the future. In some instances we are putting down 300kW chargers to future proof our sites.

Gigahubs™ are typically located in high-demand areas such as at airports and on motorways. bp pulse has already opened Gigahubs™ in Park Lane, London, at Gatwick Airport, and Kettering.

The number of charge points alone will not realise the global EV transition. Motorists and fleets need reliable, convenient and fast charging in the right locations. That is why bp pulse is investing billions into delivering ultra-fast infrastructure and intends to open hundreds of additional charging hubs by the end of 2030.

Further information:

Further information: bp press office London, jackie.poole@uk.bp.com / +44 7919 217511 or bppress@bp.com; NEC Group Head of PR and Communications, Becky Humphries , +44 121 767 3214 / becky.humphries@necgroup.co.uk; EVN, markb@theevnetwork.com or +44 7825 863857

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