Kempower and Be.EV: Building one of the UK’s top-rated public charging networks

In 2021, Be.EV launched its UK charging network with the aim of making public EV charging simple, reliable and available to everyone. The public charging network, which is equipped with Kempower chargers, is ranked as one of the UK’s top charging networks for customer experience.

As one of the fastest growing public electric vehicle charging networks in the UK, Be.EV is on a mission to make public EV charging simple, reliable and available to everyone. To achieve this, it has plans to expand its UK charging network by offering 800+ fast (~7kW to 22kW), rapid (~50 to 100kW), and ultra-rapid (over 100kW) public charging stations. To fulfil this mission, Be.EV chose Kempower to provide its ultra-rapid charging infrastructure to a range of conveniently located sites, with Vital EV acting as the UK distributor. 

The UK network now consists of 218 sites, 23 of which feature ultra-rapid Kempower chargers. Named among the top five UK charging networks in the ultra-rapid charging category by Zapmap, the network stands out for its excellent customer experience.

A network that meets the needs of today’s EV drivers.

Knowing that today’s EV drivers expect high levels of charging availability and speeds, Be.EV wanted the newest charging sites in its 800+ charging point-strong network to offer ultra-rapid charging. Since launching its partnership with Kempower and Vital EV, 189 of the network’s charging points are Kempower Satellite Chargers. These ultra-rapid chargers deliver up to 150kW for the majority of EVs (400 volt EVs), adding up to 165 miles of range in 20 minutes, and 300kW at some locations, (for 800 volt EVs) adding up to 325 miles of range in 20 minutes. They also employ dynamic power sharing across the whole charging location, meaning power is distributed according to need and customers can expect top speeds wherever they park.

It was important to us to deliver the fastest charging times on the market to our customers. Today, EV drivers expect the highest level of convenience, and fast charging times are an important part of this. Kempower’s ultra-rapid charging infrastructure was able to provide this, with the added benefit of dynamic power sharing to guarantee high availability at our hubs,” commented Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV.

Manchester’s Charging Oasis represents a flagship site in the new network. Built around ultra-rapid charging and a top-tier customer experience, the site is home to ten Kempower Satellites, offering 12 ultra-rapid charging points. Two of the charging bays are extra long to accommodate larger EVs and vans, and one bay is a dedicated, PAS-compliant, accessible bay. Wide standard bays reflect real-world driver feedback from Be.EV’s 58,000+ members, who prioritise manoeuvrability, good lighting, safety, and intuitive use. Four waiting bays keep traffic flowing smoothly – and are ready to be converted to EV charging bays when the additional capacity is needed – and a Caffè Nero Express on-site make the charging experience pleasant for drivers.

Built on the site of an abandoned petrol station, the site is a true story of sustainable regeneration for the Manchester community. The site is home to added biodiversity with added greenery, solar PV and rainwater harvesting and is 100% powered by renewable energy, making it a green community hub for residents, commuters, and all EV owners in the area.

Going above and beyond for a first-class customer experience

A 2024 Zapmap survey revealing UK EV drivers’ top-rated charging networks lists Be.EV among the top five networks in the large rapid/ultra-rapid network category. UK EV drivers rated Be.EV’s sites particularly highly for customer support and value for money. 

Be.EV’s newest sites featuring Kempower’s chargers reinforce Be.EV’s hallmark excellent customer experience. In addition to fast charging times, Kempower’s charger design prioritises reliability. Kempower chargers offer a charging uptime of 99% due to a modular design, meaning that if one modular unit at a site fails, it will not affect the function of the other chargers and charging availability remains high.

Moreover, Vital EV provides Be.EV with comprehensive 24/7/365 ongoing maintenance support, ensuring maximum uptime and availability across their network of sites. Vital EV’s nationwide engineering and networks teams deliver round-the-clock OTA diagnostics, proactive maintenance, as well as a 4-hour service level agreement for emergency on-site engineering response. The partnership safeguards the performance and operation of Be.EV’s charging infrastructure every day of the year.

The Be.EV app is also a major addition to the customer experience. The app simplifies the charging process for EV drivers, giving customers options to monitor their EV’s charging status in real-time and smart filters allowing users to find the right Be.EV charger for their specific vehicle. It also offers discounted charging for users with off-peak pricing and instant billing.

We were proud to work with Be.EV because it shares the same emphasis on top-notch user experience as we do at Kempower. We were particularly impressed by the final design of our Kempower chargers with Be.EV’s branding. Personalising our Kempower chargers with the Be.EV brand lets their loyal customers know that they are about to experience quality service,” commented Rolle Nieminen, Kempower’s Head of Sales for the UK and Ireland.

Accessible and flexible charging site design

Fulfilling its aim to make charging accessible for all gave Be.EV the challenge of designing a suitable charging site set up for a range of different locations. 

The compact and flexible design of Kempower’s charging infrastructure enabled Be.EV to optimise space at each of its charging sites without compromising accessibility. Kempower Satellites have a footprint no larger than an A4 piece of paper – among the smallest on the market – and can be placed up to 80m away from the Kempower Power Unit, the larger unit which delivers power to the smaller dispenser. The result is that Be.EV were able to design user-friendly sites that maintain sufficient room for accessible charging bays without significantly reducing the number of parking bays available, no matter the location – from retail parks to drive-throughs, independent car parks to roadside sites. 

Accessibility at the plug-in stage is another common issue at public charging sites since charging cables are often difficult to handle for drivers with limited mobility. Kempower addresses this with Kempower Satellites’ spring-assisted cable arm system, making the cables easier to manage for all drivers. These features enhance the physical accessibility of the site and make the overall charging experience seamless and enjoyable.

For me, Be.EV builds fantastic local community Charging Hubs. It’s really quick and simple to use the mobile app and the Be.EV card works simultaneously – it takes no time at all to charge your car. I’ve not got a home charger where I live, so [Be.EV’s site] here is my local charger, in the heart of the community. Being registered disabled, it gives me easy access from a disability perspective, thanks to the site’s design… I also think the Be.EV telephone helpline is really quick, simple, and easy to use – within 5 minutes your question is answered and the issue resolved.” – Nigel, Be.EV driver

Driving the UK e-mobility transition, one public charging site at a time

This partnership shows that it is possible to meet the high standards of today’s EV drivers through thoughtful site design that prioritises convenience and accessibility, and by installing charging infrastructure that guarantees fast charging and high charging availability.

Building on the success of the partnership’s first 23 sites, Be.EV has plans for another 20+ to go live before the end of 2025 across the Cotswolds, East Midlands, Home Counties,  North East, North West, South East, South West, and Yorkshire – and many more in the pipeline for the coming years.