BP Pulse signals intention on e-truck charging with purchase of Ashford International Truckstop
Thu 14 March 2024
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BP Pulse has announced the acquisition of Ashford International Truckstop in Kent, one of the largest truck stops in Europe, signalling its intention to develop its business to support the electrification of UK and European HGV fleets.
Located near Junction 20 of the M20, Ashford International Truckstop is close to Dover, one of the UK’s busiest ferry ports, and LeShuttle Freight via the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone. Approximately 3.5 million Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) travel across the channel via the port of Dover and Eurotunnel each year.
The 21-acre site is currently owned by GSE Group and has 660 parking bays and convenience services for HGV drivers.
Through the agreement, BP Pulse will lease back the site to Ashford International Truckstop Ltd, part of GSE Group, to operate the existing site facilities and secure parking on a long-term lease while the energy company will operate and manage the EV charging infrastructure.
Stefan von Dobschuetz, General Manager of BP Pulse Europe, said: “The location of this truck stop aligns with our mission to provide accessible and strategically positioned charging infrastructure for our customers along the major truck corridors in Europe.
“Now we need to unlock the EV charging potential at this site. We look forward to working with national energy infrastructure partners to facilitate timely power connections for our ambitious project.”
The Ashford site has capacity to host approximately 20MW chargers (MCS), 10 x 400kW and 125 x 100kW chargers.
However, the capacity is subject to power connection availability and the pace of electrification in the UK and European road freight sector.
The first MCS are expected to be in place from 2026 and could enable BP Pulse to install a range of charging options for both passing HGVs and those that park overnight.
BP says it aims to create a network of mobility hubs along key logistics corridors across UK & Europe providing freight operators with a range of energy options, including traditional fuels to support its fleet customers at every stage of their decarbonisation journey.
In January 2023, BP launched Europe’s first truck charging corridor along a 600km stretch of the Rhine-Alpine corridor across Germany. 21 Aral Pulse (BP’s brand in Germany) EV truck stops are already operational in Germany enabling an electric truck to cover over 750km across multiple routes throughout the country. Once the EV chargers are installed at the Kent site, BP hopes that the link between the UK and its German charging corridor will further encourage HGV operators to electrify their vehicles.
Image: Courtesy BP
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