bp pulse, the electric vehicle (EV) charging unit of UK energy company BP Plc, and Chinese EV maker Xpeng Inc, have opened their first jointly operated fast-charging station in China, as they look to strengthen their exposure to China’s rapidly expanding EV fleet.

The two companies announced their strategic partnership in January, with the aim of combining their existing charging networks to create one of China’s largest premium EV charging networks. In China, bp pulse operated around 1,000 charging stations with a total of 23,000 charging piles at the end of last year, while Xpeng had more than 2,000 charging stations and 10,000 charging piles in place.

Their first jointly operated EV charging station was completed in early June, strategically located at the J-Park Plaza near the Baiyun Railway Station in Guangzhou, and features 30 charging stalls and 50 connectors, including 480 kW ultra-fast chargers.

The site, designed to set a new benchmark for future urban EV charging stations, also has a rest area and a waterless car wash service, while dining and leisure facilities are also available nearby. Similar flagship charging stations will soon be opened in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as the partnership steps up its nationwide network roll-out.