Be.EV

Be.EV, public rapid and ultra-rapid charging network in the UK

Be.EV is a public electric vehicle charging network operating in the UK. The company presents itself as the UK's second top-rated rapid and ultra-rapid charging network as voted for by drivers, with over 2,500 charging bays and new sites in development. Its activity focuses on installing well-designed Charging Hubs in locations where users live, shop or grab a coffee.

The company started in 2019 and its majority shareholder is Octopus Energy Generation. The wider Octopus Energy group powers the network with wind and solar energy, which the company describes as "deep green" energy.

Infrastructure and charger types

The Be.EV network is organised around three categories of chargers according to their power:

• Ultra-rapid (75 kW or more): includes Kempower models (150 kW+) and Raption 150 (150 kW).
• Rapid (26–74 kW): includes the Raption 50 model (50 kW).
• Fast (0–25 kW): under the Evolve designation (0–22 kW).

The company states that its chargers achieve 99% reliability and that the hubs have big, clean bays.

Payment methods and access

Charging is always started with the payment method chosen by the user. For ultra-rapid (75 kW+) and rapid (26–74 kW) chargers, options include the Be.EV app, the Be.EV Member RFID card, contactless payment and a wide list of roaming partners: Octopus Electroverse, Allstar Chargepass, Plugsurfing, Paua, Motability Go Charge, Zap-Pay, Shell Recharge, OVO Charge, Tesla MultiPass, Nissan Charge, Polestar Charge, Mobilize Charge Pass, My Renault, My Alpine, BMW Charging, MB.CHARGE Public, MINI Charging, Toyota Charging Network, Subaru Charging Network, Charge myHyundai, Kia Charge, Lexus Charging Network and smart charge@street, among others.

For fast chargers (0–25 kW), the methods are the Be.EV app, the Be.EV Member RFID card, WebPay and the same roaming partners.

Subscriptions and pricing

Be.EV offers monthly charging passes through its app:

• Flexi: £13.99/month, unlocks 39p/kWh charging all day, every day across the Be.EV network.
• Go: £49/month, includes 120 kWh of charging every month (around 4 charges or 400 miles).
• Go Further: £89/month, includes 250 kWh of charging every month (around 8 charges or 800 miles).

For Be.EV Members (app and RFID card), the off-peak rate (7pm–7am) is 49p/kWh across all categories. At standard times, rates vary according to charger type: between 59p/kWh and 89p/kWh for ultra-rapid, between 59p/kWh and 79p/kWh for rapid, and between 25p/kWh and 65p/kWh for fast. The company warns that prices can vary by location and recommends checking them in the app or on the charger itself.

App and charging management

The Be.EV app allows users to manage the entire charging process. The user adds a payment card to their account, selects the location, chooses the connector and taps "Start Charge". Payment is taken at the end of the session. The app provides access to charging history and allows users to request VAT invoices. For payments made through roaming partners, the invoice is managed through the relevant partner's app or website; for contactless bank card, Apple Pay or Google Pay payments, the invoice is requested from the support team.

The company applies a small pre-authorisation at the start of each session to guarantee coverage of the amount, which is released afterwards. Be.EV states that it currently does not apply overstay charges after charging ends, although local parking restrictions or fees may apply.

Customer service and support

Be.EV has a support team available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for issues related to starting, ending or unlocking charging sessions. It also offers email support for matters such as issuing VAT invoices.

Frequently asked questions about charging

The Be.EV website provides answers to common driver questions. Among them, it explains that charging time depends on the vehicle, state of charge, battery temperature and charger power: fast chargers can take several hours to reach 100%, rapid chargers around an hour to reach 80% and ultra-rapid chargers between 20 and 30 minutes to reach 80%. It also details factors that slow down charging, such as a cold battery, a high state of charge or power sharing between two vehicles on the same charger.

The company recommends not waiting to reach 100% to end the charge, as speed decreases considerably beyond a certain level and repeated full charges can degrade the battery. It also suggests that vehicles with lower charging capacity use lower-power chargers first to leave higher-power ones free.