Be.EV has acquired the UK public charging network from Mer, a leading European electric vehicle charging company.
The deal significantly expands the Manchester-based EV charge point operator’s footprint nationwide and will make it easier for customers to charge on one reliable network.
The acquisition adds over 1,600 charging bays across more than 450 sites to the Be.EV network, strengthening its presence across the South of England and will complement its existing strength in the North and Midlands.
The deal moves Be.EV into the UK’s top 10 charging networks by rapid and ultra-rapid charging capacity.
Be.EV is majority owned by Octopus Energy Generation’s Sky Fund, including an employee ownership stake.
The fund has raised over £2.5bn from institutional investors and invests into a globally diversified portfolio of renewable and energy infrastructure assets.
Mer’s UK public charging assets will be fully integrated into Be.EV’s existing network.
Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV, said: “We’re delighted to bring Mer’s network into Be.EV and even more excited about what it means for drivers.
“People don’t want to think about charging, they just want it to work, whenever and wherever they are.
“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: “We are pleased to see Mer’s UK public charging network join Be.EV, a company with a strong customer-centric approach and clear ambitions in public charging.
“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.”
Mer will refocus its public EV charging strategy on its core European markets, but will continue to operate its extensive fleet charging network in the UK, which includes approximately 500 workplace chargers available to employees and site visitors.
As a combined network, Be.EV expects to benefit from efficiencies of scale, including improved buying power, more efficient network operations and lower overheads per site.