bp pulse, Chicago-based bp’s EV charging business, on Dec. 19 opened an electric vehicle (EV) charging hub located near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
The ORD hub features 40 ultrafast EV charging bays equipped with a mix of 400-killowatt and 150-killowatt direct current fast chargers. They support the combined charging system (CCS), which is a fast-charging standard for electric vehicles that supports both alternating current and direct current charging, as well as the North American Charging Standard (NACS), an EV charging connector originally developed by Tesla that combines both AC and DC charging into a single plug.
- Learn more about EV charging terms here.
The site also includes a covered canopy and free Wi-Fi, with an adjacent bp-branded gas station with a convenience store, coffee shop and restaurants.
- bp America Inc. is No. 5 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. convenience-store chains by store count.
“Opening our sixth major airport hub is a significant milestone in our commitment to expanding our EV charging network across the United States,” said Sujay Sharma, CEO of bp pulse Americas. “By strategically placing our hubs in high-demand locations like airports, we’re making it easier for drivers to access the fast and reliable charging they need. Locating this hub next to a bp retail site also means EV drivers can benefit from the convenient amenities already offered to customers today.”
This hub was funded in part through a $500,000 rebate from ComEd via its Make Ready Rebate program. This is one of three EV rebate programs currently available to ComEd customers, providing business and public sector entities with financial support to help install charging within the ComEd service territory.
The hub was also funded through a $320,000 grant from Illinois EPA’s Driving a Cleaner Illinois Program. Under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), Illinois EPA is providing funding for the installation and maintenance of publicly available Level 2 or Level 3 charging stations.
The new hub at ORD is part of bp pulse’s broader strategy to build a national EV charging network, with similar hubs already operating near major airports in Los Angeles (LAX), Boston (BOS), San Francisco (SFO), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Houston (HOU). These locations are aimed at providing ride-hail drivers and local EV drivers fast and convenient charging options on the go.
bp pulse also opened charging hubs in Eloy, Arizona; El Paso, Texas; and Hebron, Ohio, in December.
Additionally, bp pulse is building its network across a variety of site types in bp's retail network of bp, Amoco, ampm, Thorntons and TravelCenters of America locations. In addition to convenience stores, many of these sites provide drivers with amenities while charging, such as restaurants and car washes. The company also has partnered with Waffle House to add charging services to its locations.
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