(Yicai) Jan. 14 -- Two units of Chinese electric carmaker Xpeng Motors and UK oil and natural gas colossus BP have agreed to open up their vehicle charging networks to each other’s customers.

Guangzhou Xiaopeng Smart Charge Technology and BP Pulse signed a memorandum of understanding today, agreeing to launch pilot projects in major Chinese cities.

By collaborating on equipment and locations, they aim to establish an ultra-fast charging network in core urban areas, providing electric vehicle users with a more densely distributed, higher-quality, safer, and more reliable charging services.

The deal comes a week after Xpeng signed a similar agreement with Volkswagen Group China to open up their charging stations to each other. The two firms also plan to develop ultra-fast charging stations, they said.

Xpeng and BP Pulse will also explore other way of working together, such as integrated energy solutions including solar-storage-charging energy supply networks and demand-side response for electricity.

Guangzhou-based Xpeng’s network has over 2,000 charging stations with more than 10,000 charging piles, while in China BP Pulse has 1,000 and 23,000, respectively.

Xpeng will expand its overseas network this year, with pilot projects potentially spanning Asia, Europe, and Australia. The company said it also plans to explore a broader, faster, and more cost-effective approach to deploying overseas charging networks through pilot programs for energy storage equipment.

Both parties said that this collaboration represents an important step forward in meeting customer expectations as well as their joint efforts to support China's strategy for EV charging infrastructure.

Editor: Tom Litting