U.S. car rental firm Hertz has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with bp to set up a network of EV charging stations powered by bp’s global electrification and charging solution brand bp pulse.
As per the agreement, bp pulse and a customized Omega software will be used to manage Hertz’s charging infrastructure to ensure quick recharging of Hertz’s fleet of electric rental cars. The Omega software supports fleet operations through automated charging when the power price is low and provide real-time visibility into power usage and more.
Hertz has locations across North America to develop this network of charging stations. The partnership with bp will enable the firm to expand its national charging footprint.
“It’s brilliant to be joining forces with Hertz – quite simply, they are one of the biggest names on the road,”
“Working together to deliver charging facilities and design solutions, we believe we can take the EV driving experience to the next level for US customers. And this is just the start for bp pulse in the United States," Bernard Looney, bp Chief Executive, said.
Hertz has a fleet of tens of thousands of EVs from Tesla, Polestar and GM that are available at the 500 Hertz locations across 38 states. It aims to transition a quarter of its more than 400,000-vehicle fleet to electric by the end of 2024.
“Hertz is accelerating the adoption of electrification by investing in the largest rental fleet of electric vehicles in North America and expanding the availability of charging stations,” Stephen Scherr, Hertz CEO said. “We are excited to partner with bp pulse to create a national charging infrastructure for the Hertz EV fleet, thereby growing the number of charging options available to our customers and providing them with a premium electric experience and lower emission travel options.”
Global oil giant bp, historically known as British Petroleum, has recently created several new initiatives aimed at the decarbonization of energy. These include hydrogen production facilities, investing and building 20 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2025 and in carbon capture and sequestration facilities, which could enable continuation of baseload power generation such as natural gas and coal-fired plants.
