BP Pulse runs 30,000+ charge points across the UK, Europe, the US, China and Australia, with one of the densest rapid networks in Britain at 150–300 kW.
🇬🇧United Kingdom
Network size
30,000+ charge points worldwide
Max power
Up to 300 kW (Gigahub & motorway)
Connectors
CCS2 · CHAdeMO · Type 2
Founded
2018 · bp plc
Network overview
BP Pulse is the EV arm of bp, born from the 2018 Chargemaster acquisition. The network now includes the flagship BP Pulse Gigahub at NEC Birmingham (180 ultra-rapid bays), motorway sites at Moto and Welcome Break, and dense urban coverage in London. BP Pulse is one of the very few networks where contactless tap-to-charge works on every public unit — no app required.
What makes BP Pulse stand out
▸UK's largest public rapid charging network
▸Contactless tap-to-charge — no app
▸Flagship Gigahubs with 150–300 kW
▸Partnerships with Moto, Welcome Break, M&S
Countries served and coverage
BP Pulse operates across United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, United States, China, Australia, New Zealand, with notable presence in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Munich, Madrid. BP Pulse runs the NEC Birmingham Gigahub (180 bays, the largest in Europe), Cromwell Road London, Park Lane London, and motorway sites at Moto Toddington (M1), Moto Cherwell Valley (M40), Welcome Break Newport Pagnell (M1) and Welcome Break Charnock Richard (M6). For Scotland, BP Pulse covers the M8 Glasgow–Edinburgh corridor and Aberdeen. The London urban network is the densest in the UK — virtually any zone 1–4 trip is within 1 km of a rapid stall.
Maximum charging speed and connectors
Peak power on the BP Pulse network reaches Up to 300 kW (Gigahub & motorway) on the latest hardware. Supported connectors: CCS2, CHAdeMO, Type 2. Real-world charge speed depends on your vehicle's on-board charging limit, battery state-of-charge and cell temperature — pre-conditioning the pack before arrival typically adds 20–40 kW of sustained throughput.
Pricing model
BP Pulse's headline UK pay-as-you-go rate is £0.79/kWh on 150 kW+ rapid and ultra-rapid stalls, dropping to £0.59/kWh on 50 kW destination chargers. The BP Pulse subscription (£7.85/month) lowers the rapid rate to £0.69/kWh — break-even is about 27 kWh per month, less than one full charge for most EVs. Contactless and app pricing are identical (no contactless markup). Overstay fees of £0.20/minute apply after 90 minutes on rapid stalls. Roaming via Shell Recharge, Octopus Electroverse and Chargemap adds 10–15%.
App and contactless requirements
Every public BP Pulse unit in the UK accepts contactless tap-to-pay — a deliberate strategic choice that sets the network apart. The BP Pulse app adds Autocharge (plug-and-charge), live availability, route planning and subscription pricing. Autocharge works once you register a vehicle: plug in and the session starts in under 10 seconds. There is no requirement to download anything; a bank card and a CCS-compatible EV is enough.
Reliability and uptime
BP Pulse uptime has improved markedly since 2023, with the network publishing a 98.5% rolling average. Newer Gigahub and motorway sites (Alpitronic and Kempower hardware) are extremely reliable. Some older 50 kW units inherited from Chargemaster still show occasional faults; BP Pulse is actively retiring those through 2026. The 24/7 phone line typically answers in two to three minutes.
Best use case
BP Pulse is the default UK rapid network if you need density. Motorway service areas, supermarket car parks (Marks & Spencer, ASDA partnerships), Holiday Inn destination chargers, and the NEC Birmingham Gigahub all run on BP Pulse. Excellent for mixed urban + motorway driving where you want one network that covers both. Less ideal for pure long-distance Europe travel — outside the UK, BP Pulse is sparse compared to IONITY or Fastned.
Compatible vehicles
Every modern EV works at BP Pulse — CCS2 for fast DC, Type 2 for AC destination charging, CHAdeMO supported on legacy 50 kW stalls. The network is especially well-suited to UK fleet EVs (Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, BYD Atto 3, MG4, Renault Megane E-Tech) thanks to its tight retail and supermarket placement.
Supermarket and motorway partnerships make it everywhere you go
Strong subscription discount for frequent users
Cons
Legacy 50 kW hardware can still be unreliable
Sparse outside the UK
Pay-as-you-go expensive vs. Octopus Electroverse roaming sometimes
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the BP Pulse app?
No. Every public BP Pulse stall takes contactless tap-to-pay. The app or subscription is cheaper but optional.
How much does BP Pulse cost per kWh?
£0.79/kWh on rapid pay-as-you-go, £0.69/kWh with the £7.85/month subscription, £0.59/kWh on 50 kW destination chargers.
Where are BP Pulse Gigahubs?
The flagship is at NEC Birmingham (180 bays). Others are rolling out at Cromwell Road London, Manchester and the M5 Bridgwater corridor through 2026.
Is BP Pulse reliable?
Newer ultra-rapid hardware (Alpitronic, Kempower) is very reliable. Older 50 kW Chargemaster units are being retired through 2026 — check the app for stall status before committing.
Does BP Pulse work in Europe?
Yes, with growing presence in Germany, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands, but the network is much thinner than IONITY or Fastned outside the UK.
Can I roam to BP Pulse with Octopus Electroverse?
Yes. Octopus Electroverse, Shell Recharge and Chargemap all roam onto BP Pulse with a 10–15% markup.
What's the BP Pulse subscription?
£7.85/month, dropping the rapid rate from £0.79 to £0.69/kWh. Break-even is 27 kWh per month — less than one full charge.
Find a BP Pulse stall near you
Use our live charger map to filter by operator and see real-time availability for BP Pulse stalls along your route.
