Oil giant BP has announced the start of its rollout of 400 ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging-points across the UK.

The firm will launch the network though its new EV charging company, BP Chargemaster.

BP said the new 150kW chargers will be able to provide convenient ultra-fast charging to support the continued growth of the UK’s EV market.

Tufan Erginbilgic, chief executive of BP’s Downstream business, said: “As the world of mobility evolves, BP is determined to be the fuel provider of choice whether drivers need electric charging or liquid fuels.

“BP Chargemaster continues to develop and is leading the way for our understanding of how we can best support and succeed in this fast-growing new market.

“Convenient and reliable ultra-fast charging will be critical in driving the wider adoption of electric vehicles in the UK.

“The combination of BP Chargemaster’s EV charging expertise, experience and customer base with BP’s retail sites across the UK is now allowing us to develop the UK’s first nationwide network of ultra-fast chargers.”

BP said the new chargers are first in a planned rollout of 400 ultra-fast chargers at BP sites across the UK by the end of 2021.

David Newton, chief operating officer of BP Chargemaster, said: “We believe our establishment of a nationwide ultra-fast charging network will be transformative for the electric vehicle market in the UK.

“Working closely with global vehicle manufacturers, we are developing the solutions that electric vehicle drivers need to enable them to charge confidently and conveniently, wherever they are in the country.

“BP’s forecourts are ideal locations for this technology, which will provide an expected dwell time of 10-12 minutes, not dissimilar from the average of around seven minutes spent by drivers of petrol and diesel cars on a forecourt today.”