Tesla is facing some fresh competition from a growing rival.
TravelCenters of America (TA), together with bp pulse, opened last week a new electric vehicle (EV) charging hub in Jacksonville, Florida along the I-95 corridor - and Tesla should take notice.
The site, which includes 12 ultra-fast EV charging bays with 400 kW DC fast chargers, also boasts onsite amenities like Popeyes and Subway restaurants, a convenience store, WiFi, and an ATM.
But how does Tesla factor in? Its DC fast chargers have an output of "only" 350 kW, an indicator that there's room for improvement for Tesla.
For now, it seems the charging depot is specifically for passenger vehicles. Last summer, TA, which was purchased by BP in May 2023, announced it broke ground on one of the country's first publicly accessible medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) commercial truck charging stations in Ontario, California.
Upon completion later this year, the site will include 400 kW chargers. Next year, a single Megawatt charger (MCS) will be added, capable of providing DC ultra-fast charging for up to five trucks simultaneously.
More such sites are expected in the near future.
[Related: TA breaks ground on new public truck charging station]
The Jacksonville hub is the latest charging site of a planned 40 such sites slated to open at TA locations across the U.S.
“As we expand our EV charging network in the US, I am thrilled to unveil our first of many hubs at TA locations," said Sujay Sharma, CEO of bp pulse Americas. "These sites are strategically located across key highway corridors that provide our customers with enroute charging when and where they need it most, while offering convenient amenities, like restaurants and restrooms.”
At present, bp pulse says it has 37,500 EV charging bays globally and is aiming to increase that figure to 100,000 by 2030.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our journey to bring new forms of energy to our customers as we support their changing mobility needs, while leveraging the best of bp and TA, and ultimately showcasing bp's transformation to an integrated energy company," added Debi Boffa, CEO of TA. "While this is significant, to our loyal customers and guests, rest assured TA will continue to provide the same safe and reliable fueling options it has offered for over 50 years, regardless of the type of fuel.”
