VW and BP will install thousands of fast EV chargers at gas stations in Europe

VW and BP are ready to work together to ease some of the transitional pain as they embrace electric vehicles. The two companies are teaming up to install thousands of VW's Flexpole 150 kilowatt fast EV chargers at gas stations in Germany and the UK. Within two years, there will be as many as 2,000 charging units at the UK and Aral locations.

The expansion will help expand the charging network by the end of the decade. The locations of the new chargers will be available through both in-car apps in VW group cars, as well as VW's Elli charging app. The two firms will explore further opportunities in eco-friendly transportation.

Flexpole's ability to deliver nearly 100 miles of charging in 10 minutes might be their true appeal. It is easier to install battery storage at gas stations and other places where high voltage might not be an option.

This is not an altruistic move. VW needs an extensive charging network if it is going to sell 70 percent of its sales of electric vehicles by 2030. A partnership like this could help BP transition gas stations to EV charging more gracefully than it might on its own.