Bp Pulse unveils electrification plans for massive Ashford truck stop
Charging operator BP Pulse has revealed ambitious plans to electrify one of Europe’s biggest truck stops after purchasing the site.
has secured the freehold to the Ashford International Truckstop in Kent and says the site will form a key part of its plans to create a Europe-wide network of electric HGV charging infrastructure.
The 21-acre site is positioned off Junction 10 and 10a of the M20, within a few miles of Dover ferry port and the LeShuttle Freight terminal in Folkestone. Approximately 3.5 million HGVs travel across the channel via those two sites every year, passing close to the truck stop.
The site has the capacity to host more than 150 chargers of different outputs to support on-the-go and overnight charging of electric HGVs. BP Pulse says the location can support
approximately 20 mega-watt chargers (MCS), 10 ultra-rapid 400kW devices and 125 100kW chargers.
The first mega-watt chargers are expected to be in place from 2026. A mega-watt charger has the potential to fully charge an HGV in up to 45 minutes, enabling an onward range of around 310 miles (500km) in a single charge.
Stefan von Dobschuetz, general manager of BP Pulse Europe, said, “For fleet operators to consider going electric, they must be confident that the infrastructure is in place to support them. That is why we are thrilled to have secured the land to a crucial site near Dover as we strive to meet the evolving needs of HGV operators transitioning to EVs. The location of this truck stop aligns with our mission to provide accessible and strategically positioned charging infrastructure for our customers along the major truck corridors in Europe,”
The truckstop is currently owned by the GSE Group, which will continue to operate the existing site facilities and secure parking on a long-term lease. Bp pulse will operate and manage the EV charging infrastructure.
Darrell Healey, chairman of GSE Group, said: “We know the industry, including many of our clients, want to go electric. They will need convenient and quick charging infrastructure in the right locations, which is why the combination of the truck stop at Ashford and bp pulse works so well.
“Our knowledge and experience of operating arguably the best truck stop in the UK, combined with BP Pulse’s capabilities in building the EV charging infrastructure required by our existing and future customers, is a perfect partnership. We’re looking forward to seeing our site evolve and serve such e-trucks and to continue to explore other potential truck stop projects in the UK.”
