Be.EV invests GBP £2.5M in four new ultra-rapid charging hubs
Be.EV has announced a GBP £2.5 million investment to install four new ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging hubs in London.
Be.EV's latest development will see the creation of 30 new 150kW charging bays across four sites in the capital, aimed at addressing the shortage of high-powered public EV charging options in the city. The first of these sites has already been installed at the Crown Hotel London in Cricklewood, delivered in collaboration with AG Hotels.
Key milestone
The installation at the Crown Hotel marks the 300th ultra-rapid charge point for Be.EV, reflecting what the company describes as a significant period of growth. The charging station at the hotel is intended to enhance the convenience for guests with electric vehicles, and is expected to attract both travellers and local EV drivers looking for rapid charging options.
The expansion programme's additional sites will be located near Croydon, Dartford and Watford. The inclusion of these new hubs is designed to support London's efforts to expand its EV charging infrastructure, especially high-powered rapid charging bays, which the city currently lacks compared to the national average.
London's public charging challenge
Despite London having a higher overall number of EV chargers than other UK regions, the capital remains below the national average when it comes to public rapid chargers - those offering 50kW or more - relative to its population. Only Northern Ireland has fewer of these rapid chargers per 100,000 people.
Be.EV's new installations are expected to provide EV drivers with increased flexibility when planning longer journeys and when in need of fast recharging options. The company described this investment as the first step in addressing the public charging disparity in London.
Industry perspectives
Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV, comments: "London is crying out for reliable, accessible EV charging - and this expansion is about meeting that demand head-on. We're helping to future-proof the city by putting chargers where people need them most: close to homes, shops and leisure destinations.
"It's a win for AG Hotels too - they get EV charging at no cost, while benefiting from increased footfall from drivers stopping in to top up. This is what the future of urban mobility looks like, and we're proud to be helping deliver it in the capital."
The partnership with AG Hotels is central to the initiative's rollout in Cricklewood. Hotel sites are increasingly seen as strategic locations for rapid EV charging due to their proximity to transport routes and local amenities.
Grish Grover, CEO and Managing Director, AG Hotels Group, said: "On-site EV charging is becoming a clear differentiator in the hospitality sector, shifting from a nice-to-have to an essential service. Partnering with Be.EV will allow us to meet the expectations of a growing number of travellers with EVs while also attracting new customers from the local community. It's a strategic step that strengthens our sustainability agenda and ensures our hotels remain competitive as travel behaviours evolve."
Growth and rankings
Be.EV was voted the UK's fourth top-rated large rapid and ultra-rapid EV charging network by drivers last year, according to Zapmap's annual charge point operator rankings. The company, established in Greater Manchester in 2019, currently operates a network of more than 750 live charging bays across the UK, with plans to grow this to around 1,600 by the end of 2025. The network is backed by substantial funding, including GBP £110 million from Octopus Energy Generation and GBP £55 million from institutional lenders.
The new investment into London forms part of Be.EV's wider strategy to make charging infrastructure more accessible for EV drivers nationwide, focusing on high-traffic areas and locations that can benefit from enhanced rapid charging provision.
