Bescom to Set Up 650 EV Charging Stations Across Karnataka

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) has announced that it has suggested to set up 650 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across Karnataka, 100 of same will be set up in Bengaluru.

The plan is under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle (FAME) scheme. Bescom believed Bengaluru will be its key focus, where the project will be executed first.

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

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

The power utility submitted the proposal freshly, but is yet to get the signal from Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Sreenath held. With Bescom planning to acquire 25 more electric vehicles, four additional charging stations will be built at its corporate office.