7: Talking Net Zero episode 7 - Tom Callow
EV charging is the big topic of the moment as the government pushes for more infrastructure ahead of its 2030 EV deadline. Sarah Sloman chats with Tom Callow of the electric vehicle charging network BP Pulse. Founded in 2008, as Chargemaster – initially converting petrol cars to electric – it’s grown massively, and in 2018 was bought by BP. Tom talks about ‘mobility hubs’ – generally known as forecourts, these days – and the new ‘black gold’: It’s no longer oil, but coffee. He explains how the mobility hub network will change and grow, what the best locations are and why rural areas will not be overlooked. Already, BP Pulse is in mid-Wales, for example. There will be ‘multiple formats’ in terms of charging, he says, new hubs that are not filling stations and he predicts a ‘huge roll-out’ of BP Pulse’s plans’ over next five years - ahead of 2030 EV deadline. “We’re going across the country – not just targeting cities – and it’s not just about putting in new, but also upgrading older ‘legacy’ infrastructure,” he tells Sara. As their chat closes, he explains what the newly-announced partnership with JumpTech’s platform will deliver, and the wider charging options.