Be.EV has acquired the UK public charging network from Mer, a European electric vehicle charging company, expanding its footprint nationwide.
The acquisition adds more than 1,600 charging bays across 450-plus sites to the Be.EV network, widening its presence across the South and North of England, and the Midlands.
Be.EV is majority owned by Octopus Energy Generation’s Sky Fund, including an employee ownership stake.
The fund raised over £2.5bn from institutional investors and invests into a globally diversified portfolio of renewable and energy infrastructure assets.
The majority of the enlarged network will, in time, be powered by Octopus Energy and offer nationwide access to Be.EV’s 39p/kWh subscription and 7pm to 7am off-peak pricing.
Mer’s UK public charging assets will be fully integrated into Be.EV’s existing network and its current customers will still be able to access the chargers.
Mer will refocus its public EV charging strategy on its core European markets, but will continue to operate its fleet charging network in the UK, which includes approximately 500 workplace chargers available to employees and site visitors.
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, added: “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.”
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.
The company aims to invest in targeted upgrades and selective replacement of equipment over time, with the intention of further strengthening reliability and maintaining a high-quality charging experience.
Be.EV said it does not expect to close sites as part of the acquisition and will focus on enhancing discoverability, reliability and customer experience by applying its existing operational and marketing approach across the expanded estate.
The transaction involves the acquisition of Mer’s UK public charging business, excluding fleet operations.
The combined organisation will be supported by a streamlined team following completion.
