BESCOM Planning For 650 EV Charging Stations in Karnataka

BESCOM has revealed that it plans to install 650 EV charging stations in the state of Karnataka, with 100 stations planned for Bengaluru.

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) has revealed that it plans to install 650 Electric Vehicle charging stations in the state of Karnataka, with 100 stations planned for Bengaluru.

The proposal has been envisioned under the newly approved second phase of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle (FAME) scheme. The discom has revealed that a major focus will be on the capital, where the project will be implemented first.

The 100 stations will be in addition to the 112 that are expected to become operational by August this year. With 8,980 e-vehicles, Bengaluru currently has more than 57 percent of such vehicles registered in the state. Records show there has been a nearly 40 percent jump in the number of registered electric vehicles in the city between 2018 and 2019. 

Under the FAME scheme, the discom plans to set up charging stations every 20-25 km for a 50 km distance on either side of Bengaluru-Tumakuru highway and for a 100 km distance on either side of Bengaluru-Mysuru highway. 

“Due to space constraints, most of the proposed EV charging stations will come up in government offices and complexes. After Bengaluru, stations will be set up in Mysuru, Hubbali-Dharwad and Davangere and later in Shivamogga and Belagavi,” said CK Sreenath, deputy general manager, smart grid and electric vehicle, Bescom. 

Recently, BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. (BRPL), the state discom for Delhi, announced that it has commissioned its first smart public charging station the ‘Blue Smart Charger’ for electric vehicles in South Extension Part 2.

The smart charging station, which can charge two vehicles simultaneously has been set up in partnership between BRPL, Gensol Charge Ltd. and Techperspect. As part of this endeavour, BSES has entered into partnerships with several organisations to set-up over 150 smart EV charging stations across its licensed area. Of this, around 50 smart EV charging stations will be set-up in FY 2019-20.