Be.EV has bought the UK public charging business of Mer, which will add about 1,600 extra bays at more than 450 sites to its network.
The acquisition will triple Manchester-based Be.EV’s UK charging footprint to in excess of 2,500 bays and 680 sites.
Mer, owned by Norwegian renewable energy firm Statkraft, will refocus its public EV charging strategy on its core European markets, and continue to operate its fleet charging network in the UK, which includes about 500 workplace chargers.
The acquisition complements Be.EV’s existing presence in the North and Midlands, while strengthening its network across the south of England.
It also moves the business into the UK’s top 10 largest charging networks by rapid and ultra-rapid charging bays.
Mer’s UK public charging assets will be fully integrated into Be.EV’s existing network and current customers will still be able to access existing chargers.
No sites are expected to close as part of the acquisition.
Be.EV is majority owned by Octopus Energy Generation’s Sky Fund, which includes an employee ownership stake.
Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV said, “This acquisition brings the reliable Be.EV experience to more places, and the scale we gain helps us keep public charging affordable – including our market-leading off-peak and subscription pricing from 39p/kWh.
“It’s a natural fit with our existing network and will sit alongside our continued investment in new sites and service improvements.”
Kristoffer Thoner, CEO at Mer, said, “This transaction supports Be.EV’s growth while allowing Mer to sharpen our strategic focus on our core European markets.
“Ultimately, both companies share the same goal – making EV charging simple and accessible for everyone.”
