BP Pulse has signed a deal with Henderson Group to roll out ultra-fast and rapid charge points in Northern Ireland.

Each charger has two charge points – one ultra-fast (150kW) and one rapid (100kW)

The two firms will work together to install up to 200 electric vehicle charge points at around 100 Henderson Retail sites across Northern Ireland within the next two years, including at 30 BP-branded locations.

Each charger has two charge points – one ultra-fast (150kW) and one rapid (100kW) – delivering a combined power of up to 250kW.

The new charging units tackle the lack of grid connections by featuring an integrated battery storage system. They are installed with a connection to a standard voltage power grid. This overcomes a significant barrier to the roll-out of EV charging infrastructure and removes the need for construction of a dedicated high-voltage substation, considerably reducing installation cost and time.

The new sites will join the 40+ charge points already available to EV drivers at over 20 Henderson Retail sites across Northern Ireland and will help tackle the dearth of charging in the country. The National Franchised Dealers Association’s Northern Ireland Division spoke out earlier this year to draw attention to the “dire” EV charging network and call for urgent support and investment.

Ron Whitten, chief financial officer at Henderson Group, said: “The demand for ultra-fast charging points in Northern Ireland is high. Current figures from the Department for Transport show there are currently around 18,762 ultra-low emission vehicles registered in the region, an increase of 55% in the past two years alone. This steep trajectory of the volume of electric vehicles on the road is only going to continue, yet Northern Ireland has just 60 ultra-fast charge points in operation.”

The full rollout is planned to be finished by end 2025 and aligns with Henderson Group’s ‘Tomorrow Matters’ sustainability strategy while supporting customer needs.

Whitten continued: “This is a significant step in Henderson Group’s commitment towards more sustainable business practices as part of our Tomorrow Matters strategy, focusing on People, Place, Planet and aims to develop the business in a way that is beneficial to both staff and customers while having a positive impact on society.”

The project also supports work by BP Pulse to create one of the region’s largest networks of ultra-fast and rapid EV charging, aiming to add up to 15,000kW of charging capacity.

Akira Kirton CEO, BP Pulse UK, added: “Fast, reliable charging in convenient locations is essential to give drivers the confidence to switch to electric vehicles. Working with Henderson Group, a retail network that dominates the market in Northern Ireland, we have the opportunity and aspiration to create one of the largest networks of ultra-fast and rapid charging points – meeting the rise in demand for now and in the future.”

Mark McCall, co-founder of the Electric Vehicle Association NI, said: “This significant investment aims to bring over 200 direct current ultra-fast and rapid chargers to retail destinations across NI, making it easier and more convenient to drive an electric vehicle in Northern Ireland.”

BP Pulse is working to deliver on-the-go and destination charging infrastructure and plans to invest up to £18bn in the UK energy system by 2030. This includes up to £1bn for EV charging infrastructure.