BPCL bets big on EV charging infra, to offer charging facilities at 7,000 petrol pumps

• BPCL has chalked out a plan to offer charging stations at around 7,000 petrol pumps over next few years out of over 19,000 retail outlets
• Building a robust electric vehicle charging infrastructure will provide BPCL a new business opportunity as well as a hedge against the risk of displacement of auto fuels

Mumbai: State-run Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) is betting big on electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and has chalked out a plan to offer charging stations at around 7,000 petrol pumps over the next few years, said BPCL's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Arun Kumar Singh on Wednesday. BPCL has a distribution network of over 19,000 retail outlets (fuel stations) across the country. The EV charging infrastructure will provide the company a new business opportunity as well as a hedge against the risk of displacement of auto fuels.

The EV ecosystem in India is expected to experience a robust growth in the coming years in India as auto manufacturers turn to electric vehicles to attract new consumers. The companies that stands to benefit from this shift to EVs are the ones with a strong distribution network. BPCL, which is India's second-largest oil retailer, is a formidable player with nationwide network of fuel stations and distributors that can help in offering the EV charging facility in a short span of time compared to companies that are yet to build the physical infrastructure of retail outlets.

BPCL to put in place 7,000 energy stations for EVs

"Over the next few years, we are aiming at reaching the count of 7,000 stations to support the growing EV industry and these stations would be known as 'Energy Stations,'" said Singh. "EV charging infrastructure is one of the five focused segments that BPCL is working on along with petchem, gas, consumer retailing, renewables and biofuels that will serve the energy needs of the nation," the BPCL CMD added.

BPCL

BPCL's marketing infrastructure includes a network of installations, depots, retail outlets, aviation service stations and LPG distributors. Its distribution network comprises over 19,000 Retail Outlets, over 6,100 LPG distributorships, 733 Lubes distributorships, 123 POL storage locations, 54 LPG bottling plants, 64 Aviation Service Stations, four Lube blending plants and four cross-country pipelines.

BPCL is slated to be privatised by the end of this financial year. 

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)