Marks & Spencer (M&S) has signed an exclusive agreement with bp’s electric vehicle (EV) charging business, bp pulse, to install 900 EV chargepoints across 70 of its national stores over the next two years.
The announcement follows the successful pilot installation of 12 rapid (50kW) chargepoints at M&S stores in Eclipse, Southgate and Maidstone.
The roll-out will include a combination of ultra-fast (≥150kW) and rapid (≥50kW) chargepoints that will add 40,000kWhs of charging capacity to the EV infrastructure in the UK, said the retailer.
Each chargepoint will have a minimum capacity of 50kW with either standard grid connection or a battery-integrated solution. M&S have said that as many sites as possible will also include at least one ultra-fast 150kW chargepoint.
Bp pulse will supply, install, operate and maintain these chargepoints.
Commenting on the agreement, Sacha Berendji, director of operations at M&S said: “EV charging is the latest feature to ensure we have a store estate fit for the future, to help our customers live lower carbon lives. We know that services like EV charging are in demand from our customers, so we’re delighted to be offering this service and give more reasons for customers to shop with us.”
In 2021, M&S set out its ‘Plan A’ goal to become net zero by 2040. By extending its partnership with bp, M&S said it hopes to combine the “convenience of shopping and charging an electric vehicle, helping customers to make positive choices and reduce their impact on the environment.”
Roll-out is estimated to be completed in the next 24 months, after which M&S has stated that a feasibility study will be conducted for chargepoint installations across other sites.
“We aim to provide fast, reliable, and convenient EV charging to our customers that fits in with their busy lifestyles and so, we are excited to extend our relationship with M&S to put high-speed charge points at their stores, growing our network even further” said CEO at bp pulse UK, Akira Kirton.
“This is exactly the kind of collaboration the UK needs to help accelerate the transition to lower carbon transport and we’re delighted to be working with M&S to make that happen.”
Bp pulse was identified as having one of the largest market shares of public EV chargepoints in the UK with 2753 (7.5%) in Zap-Map’s most recent instalment of its EV charging statistics.