Hertz has partnered with BP Pulse, BP oil company’s EV charging arm, to build a network of electric vehicle charging stations across the U.S.
The new chargers will help the rental car giant have a network of chargers available to power up its purchase up to 340,000 EVs from Tesla, Polestar and General Motors by 2027.
Under the deal, BP Pulse will install the chargers and provide software and services to help Hertz manage its fast-growing fleet of EVs.
While Hertz will use many of the chargers to charge its own fleet, the company will make some available to taxi and ride-hailing drivers and the general public, the companies said. Lack of access to chargers is often cited as a potential roadblock to wider EV adoption by U.S. consumers.
The new deal builds on an existing program where BP Pulse installed chargers at 25 of Hertz’s busiest airport locations. The companies did not specify how many chargers they plan to add.
Hertz has a network of thousands of EVs to rent at about 500 locations in 38 U.S. states. The company has installed its own chargers in these locations. Hertz plans to have EVs make up a quarter of its fleet by 2024 and plans to have about 3,000 chargers in operation at its sites across the U.S by the end of 2023.
Vic Shao, who leads BP Pulse’s fleet business, told CNBC the new deal includes software to help Hertz keep its EV fleet charged and ready to rent. Shao added that BP Pulse’s fleet software also will help Hertz reduce its electricity costs by scheduling vehicles to recharge at lower-cost times of day.
The companies also plan to build chargers for the general public, taking advantage of Hertz’s high-traffic locations throughout the country. The companies expect ride-hailing drivers, particularly those who rent EVs from Hertz, to be prime customers for the chargers.
