Be.EV Expands UK Footprint With Acquisition of Mer Public Charging Network

UK charge point operator Be.EV has completed the acquisition of the UK public charging network previously owned and operated by Mer, significantly expanding its national presence.

The transaction covers approximately 1,600 charging bays across 450 locations in the South of England. The addition complements Be.EV’s established network across the North and Midlands and effectively triples the size of its network. As a result, the company now ranks among the UK’s ten largest operators by rapid and ultra-rapid charging capacity.

Mer will concentrate its public EV charging activities on its primary European markets. In the UK, however, it will maintain its fleet charging activities, including around 500 workplace charge points serving employees and visitors.

For drivers using the existing Mer public network, operations will continue without disruption and there are no immediate pricing changes. Over the next six months, the sites will be integrated into Be.EV’s platform and gradually rebranded. During this period, customers will gain access to Be.EV’s 39p/kWh subscription tariff at the newly acquired locations.

Growth via acquisition provides Be.EV with scale efficiencies while avoiding the overhead typically associated with building new infrastructure. The enlarged network is expected to improve operational efficiencies, support further site development and accelerate the business’s route to profitability. While all acquired sites will remain operational, Be.EV has indicated that it plans to introduce selective upgrades and targeted equipment replacements over time.

The move comes amid signs of consolidation in the UK EV charging sector. Recently, Connected Kerb acquired Aberdeen-based charging provider Trojan Energy out of administration. Although both transactions highlight structural shifts in the market, the Mer deal is more closely aligned with a strategic divestment than a rescue acquisition.

Be.EV is majority owned by Octopus Energy Generation’s Sky Fund, which manages more than £2.5 billion (US$3.4 billion) in capital from institutional investors for renewable and energy infrastructure assets globally. The operator’s network is provided by Octopus Energy, a separate entity and has no ownership or control of Be.EV. Meanwhile, Mer is owned by European energy company Statkraft.

Operating as part of larger business groups with more diversified activities beyond the EV infrastructure segment enables Be.EV, Mer and Connected Kerb to better withstand market uncertainty linked to softening support for transport electrification in some regions. The investment risk arising from that uncertainty ultimately contributed to Trojan Energy entering administration, as it was unable to secure the funding required to continue scaling its operations towards profitability.

Source: Company Announcement