American car rental firm Hertz and multinational oil and gas company BP have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the development of a national US network of electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints.
The network will be powered by BP pulse, BP’s electrification and charging solution brand. The MoU sets the foundation for the partnership in the hopes of accelerating consumers’ adoption of EVs.
The agreement outlines that BP pulse will oversee Hertz’s charging infrastructure and the customisation of its Omega software to ensure Hertz’s growing fleet of rental EVs can be recharged quickly and efficiently.
The software was developed to assist fleet operations by automating charging so it occurs when electricity prices are low, while also delivering real-time visibility to EVs, chargers, power usage, among other functions.
Stephen Scherr, CEO of Hertz, said: “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.
“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.”
Hertz claims to have built up a fleet of tens of thousands of EVs, which are available at 500 Hertz locations across 38 states, which it claims are suitable for BP pulse to build and manage a network of fast-charging hubs.
The rental firm plans for one-quarter of its fleet to be electric by the end of 2024, which it is pursuing through continued acquisitions of EV manufacturers.
