UK: Pay contactless at BP Chargemaster/ Polar network
The BP subsidiary BP Chargemaster has announced its intention to equip all 50 kW rapid and 150 kW ultra-fast chargers on the Polar network with contactless card payment. All existing 50 kW chargers will also be retrofitted.
Currently, the Polar network features over 7,000 charging points, including over 450 rapid chargers. BP Chargemaster now committed to retrofitting the entire network over the next 12 months.
The ultra-fast 150 kW chargers were introduced only last month, but 100 of the stations are expected to be rolled out across the UK by the end of 2019.
The most recent addition to BP Chargemaster’s network was the announcement that 200 Mitchells & Butlers Pubs would be fitted with charging points. In this venture, the company has committed to completing 50 locations with 50 kW chargers by October.
Next to the technical upgrade, the company is also updating the pricing model. BP Chargemaster cites “the overall increase in the cost of electricity” for the changes, which now start with a minimum transaction amount for the lower two payment models “Contactless” and “Polar Instant” of £1.20 and £1.50 per charge, respectively. The cheapest charging option is going with the “Polar Plus” package, which costs 12p per kWh on an AC charger, up to a maximum of 20p on a 150 kW DC fast charger. Contactless card using EV drivers will have to couch up 40p for the 150 DC fast charger option per kWh.
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