bp pulse

bp pulse is BP's electric-vehicle charging business and the successor to the Chargemaster, POLAR and BP Chargemaster brands. Its activities cover the design, manufacture, installation and operation of charging infrastructure for electric cars and other road vehicles. The business serves several distinct settings: private home charging, workplace and fleet charging, publicly accessible charging locations, and high-power charging hubs. It also operates digital and administrative services that allow drivers to find charging points, authenticate charging sessions and pay for electricity. The business began in 2008 as Chargemaster, founded in Luton by entrepreneur David Martell, who had previously founded Trafficmaster. Chargemaster developed charging hardware and built a network of public charging points at a time when the United Kingdom's electric-vehicle market was still comparatively small. The company was an early British manufacturer of rapid chargers and combined equipment sales with network operation. Its POLAR public network, launched in 2011, became one of the largest charging networks in the United Kingdom. By 2017, the network had more than 5,000 public charging points, while Chargemaster reported supplying tens of thousands of residential, commercial and public charging points. Expansion came through partnerships, investment and acquisitions. BMW i Ventures and Qualcomm were among the company's shareholders, and Qualcomm worked with Chargemaster on a 2012 London trial of wireless vehicle charging. Beringea provided growth capital in 2014. Chargemaster acquired GB Electrical in 2015, strengthening its national installation capability, and acquired Elektromotive in 2017, including its Charge Your Car network-management subsidiary. These transactions broadened the business from a charger manufacturer into an integrated infrastructure provider. Chargemaster also supplied charging equipment for vehicle manufacturers, taxi operators, workplaces, local authorities, retailers, hotels and transport organisations. Its projects included public-sector installations, charging infrastructure for The London Taxi Company's TX eCity programme, and equipment for London Fire Brigade sites. The company operated the Electric Vehicle Experience Centre in Milton Keynes, a multi-brand electric-car showroom created under the Go Ultra Low Cities programme. It was also associated with the FIA Formula E series as a charging-infrastructure supplier. BP agreed to acquire Chargemaster in 2018 for a reported £130 million. Following the transaction, the legal business became Chargemaster Limited and the commercial operation was branded BP Chargemaster. BP's ownership gave the business access to an international energy company, a large forecourt estate and a strategy focused on making charging available alongside conventional mobility services. The company moved from Luton to purpose-built premises in Milton Keynes in 2019. In December 2020, BP replaced the POLAR and Chargemaster consumer brands with bp pulse. The bp pulse proposition is centred on charging on the go. Drivers can generally access public chargers through pay-as-you-go arrangements or subscription products, using digital applications and network credentials. The network includes standard and high-speed equipment, with the business reporting more than 8,000 UK charge points in 2024, including more than 3,000 described as high-speed. bp pulse has also supplied home and workplace chargers, although support for its smart-home-charging application and cloud services was subsequently withdrawn, leaving compatible hardware operational without the former BP app-based smart functions. Its broader role remains that of a vertically integrated charging brand combining hardware, software, installation, network operation and partnerships with property, automotive and public-sector organisations.

bp pulse originated as Chargemaster, a British electric-vehicle charging company founded in Luton in 2008 by David Martell. The company emerged during the early development of the UK's electric-car market and pursued both sides of the charging business: manufacturing charging equipment and operating a network through which drivers could use public chargers. Its early shareholders included BMW i Ventures and Qualcomm, reflecting the automotive and technology sectors' interest in electric mobility. Chargemaster launched the POLAR public charging network in 2011. The network became a significant part of the UK charging landscape and had more than 5,000 public charging points by 2017. Chargemaster also participated with Qualcomm in a London wireless-charging trial in 2012. Growth capital from Beringea in 2014 supported expansion, while the company developed subscription and pay-as-you-go access products for drivers. POLAR Plus, introduced in 2015, offered members subscription-based access to the public network. In 2015, Chargemaster acquired GB Electrical, a Hereford-based electrical contractor that specialised in installing electric-vehicle charging points. The acquisition strengthened the company's ability to deliver residential, workplace and public installations across the country. Chargemaster announced a £15 million investment programme associated with network expansion and new access methods, including contactless payment. In 2017, it acquired Elektromotive and its Charge Your Car network-management subsidiary, helping establish the combined company as one of the UK's largest electric-vehicle infrastructure providers. The company supplied several generations of chargers. Its product range included wall-mounted home units, floor-standing charging posts, AC chargers and rapid chargers. The Ultracharge unit offered CHAdeMO, AC Type 2 and CCS connections, while later 150 kW installations supplied by ABB supported higher-power public charging. Chargemaster's activities extended beyond equipment sales: it provided charging infrastructure for homes, employers, local authorities, supermarkets, hotels, taxi operators and transport organisations. Public-sector and mobility projects were important to its development. Chargemaster installed charging points for more than 50 local authorities and won a 2016 Milton Keynes contract valued at £2.3 million for additional infrastructure and rapid-charging hubs. It later participated in Transport for London's programme for rapid charging points intended to support The London Taxi Company's TX eCity plug-in hybrid taxi. It also operated Milton Keynes's Electric Vehicle Experience Centre, created as part of the government's Go Ultra Low Cities initiative, and supplied charging infrastructure for FIA Formula E support vehicles. BP announced the acquisition of Chargemaster in June 2018. The reported purchase price was £130 million. After the acquisition, Chargemaster plc became Chargemaster Limited and the business operated as BP Chargemaster. Martell remained on the board until June 2019. The company relocated from Luton to newly built headquarters in Milton Keynes in 2019, reinforcing its role as a UK-based operating centre within BP's mobility portfolio. In December 2020, BP consolidated the previous POLAR and Chargemaster identities into bp pulse. The rebrand placed public charging, digital access and high-speed charging under one consumer-facing name. The network became part of BP's attempt to expand beyond petroleum retail and participate in the growing market for charging on the go. By 2024, bp pulse described its UK network as comprising more than 8,000 charge points, including over 3,000 high-speed points. The business has also adjusted its product scope: support for its home-charging app and cloud services was withdrawn in 2025, while the wider public-network and charging-on-the-go proposition remained central.

1. 2020bp pulse rebrand

   The POLAR and Chargemaster brands were replaced by bp pulse.

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2. 2019Move to Milton Keynes headquarters

   The business moved from Luton to newly built headquarters in Milton Keynes.

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3. 2018BP acquisition

   BP agreed to acquire Chargemaster for a reported £130 million.

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4. 2017Elektromotive acquisition

   Chargemaster acquired Elektromotive and its Charge Your Car network-management subsidiary.

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5. 2015GB Electrical acquisition

   Chargemaster acquired GB Electrical to expand its electric-vehicle charger installation capabilities.

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6. 2015POLAR Plus subscription launches

   The company introduced a monthly subscription scheme providing access to its public charging network.

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7. 2012Wireless-charging trial

   Chargemaster and Qualcomm participated in a London trial of wireless charging for electric vehicles.

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8. 2011POLAR public network launches

   Chargemaster introduced its POLAR public charging network in the United Kingdom.

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9. 2008Chargemaster is founded

   David Martell founded Chargemaster in Luton as an electric-vehicle charging equipment and infrastructure company.

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A vertically integrated electric-vehicle charging provider combining public network operations, high-speed charging, charging hardware, installation and digital access services under BP's wider mobility and energy portfolio.

• bp pulse public charging networkPublic EV charging network2011

  The consumer-facing network inherited from Chargemaster's POLAR operation. It provides publicly accessible charging at locations across the United Kingdom, with drivers able to use pay-as-you-go access or subscription arrangements. Network access has supported RFID credentials, smartphone applications and other payment or authentication methods. The network includes conventional and high-speed charging equipment and is positioned around charging electric vehicles while travelling.

• Rapid and high-speed chargersCharging hardware2015

  Chargemaster developed rapid charging equipment including the Ultracharge unit, which supported CHAdeMO, AC Type 2 and CCS connections. Later 150 kW installations supplied by ABB provided higher-power charging and were intended for deployment at BP forecourts. These products form the hardware base for public charging sites, hubs and other high-throughput locations.

• Home charging unitsResidential EV charging

  The former Chargemaster business supplied wall-mounted home chargers and partnered with several vehicle manufacturers, including BMW, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault and Toyota. Its residential products included different AC power ratings and were installed for private electric-vehicle owners. Support for the bp pulse home-charging application and cloud services later ended, although existing units could continue to function without the former smart-management features.

• Charge Your CarCharging-network software and back-office services2017

  Charge Your Car is the network-management business acquired with Elektromotive. It provides administrative and digital services for charge-point owners, including user registration, billing and location information. In many deployments the service supports local authorities and other operators without owning or maintaining the physical charging equipment.

• Workplace and fleet chargingCommercial EV charging

  Chargemaster supplied charging points for workplaces, supermarkets, local authorities and other organisations. These installations supported employee, visitor and fleet charging and could be combined with network-management and payment services. The business's later emphasis shifted toward public charging on the go, making the future availability and scope of its workplace offering less clear.

• 2020bp pulse brand launch

  United Kingdom

  BP consolidated POLAR, POLAR Plus and Chargemaster consumer-facing identities under the bp pulse name.

  Outcome. The rebrand created a single identity for BP's electric-vehicle charging network and related services.

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• 2017Electric Vehicle Experience Centre

  United Kingdom

  Chargemaster won the contract to operate the UK's first multi-brand electric-car showroom in Milton Keynes under the government-backed Go Ultra Low Cities programme. The centre was designed to help consumers understand electric vehicles and charging.

  Outcome. It established a consumer-education and demonstration presence for electric mobility in Milton Keynes.

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• 2025Withdrawal of home-charging app and cloud supportStrategy

  The home-charging product had included app-based smart-management and scheduling functions.

  What changed. bp pulse ceased providing its home-charging app and cloud services. Existing units could continue operating, but BP-based smart functions were no longer available.

  Aftermath. Home users may need to rely on vehicle-side controls or other local functionality, while bp pulse's emphasis appears more focused on charging on the go.

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• 2020Consolidation under bp pulseStrategy

  BP owned multiple inherited charging identities, including POLAR and Chargemaster.

  What changed. BP replaced the former consumer brands with bp pulse.

  Aftermath. Public charging, network access and related electric-mobility activity were presented under one BP charging brand.

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• 2018BP acquires ChargemasterM&A

  Chargemaster had developed a sizeable UK charging network, charging hardware portfolio and installation operation.

  What changed. BP agreed to purchase the company and subsequently integrated it as Chargemaster Limited and BP Chargemaster.

  Aftermath. The acquisition gave BP a direct electric-vehicle charging platform and preceded the bp pulse rebrand.

  Acquisition price. £130 million (2018 announced transaction)

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• 2025Support for bp pulse home-charging app and cloud services ends

  Support for the home-charging application and cloud services ceased; existing units could continue operating, but former BP app-based smart functions were no longer available.

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• 2024bp pulse reports more than 8,000 UK charge points

  The network was described as having more than 8,000 UK charge points, including over 3,000 high-speed units.

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• 2020POLAR and Chargemaster brands are replaced by bp pulse

  BP consolidated the former POLAR and Chargemaster consumer identities under the bp pulse brand.

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• 2018BP agrees to acquire Chargemaster

  BP announced an agreement to buy Chargemaster, bringing the British charging-network and equipment company into the BP group.

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• 2018Chargemaster adopts BP Chargemaster identity

  After the acquisition, Chargemaster's legal and commercial identity was integrated with BP's mobility activities.

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1. BP Pulse