Solar-Powered EV Charging Hub with Second-Life Batteries Launched Near Bengaluru Airport

In a pioneering move, a solar-integrated electric vehicle (EV) charging station powered by second-life batteries was inaugurated near Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).

The charging hub, a collaboration between Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) and the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), has been operational for several months but awaited formal inauguration.

Energy Minister K. J. George officially launched the facility, highlighting that this is the country’s first EV charging station to utilise second-life batteries to store solar power. The station features a 45-kilowatt solar power system coupled with 100 KWh of second-life battery storage capacity, enabling continuous 24/7 vehicle charging.

Equipped with 18 fast-charging and five slow-charging points, the hub can charge up to 23 electric vehicles simultaneously. Solar energy generated during the day is stored in repurposed batteries from old electric vehicles and supplied round-the-clock to EVs.

N. Shivashankar, Managing Director of Bescom, emphasized the significance of the station as the first in India to offer uninterrupted charging facilities. The Energy Minister reaffirmed the Karnataka government’s commitment to expanding EV infrastructure in line with the state’s EV policy, noting the station will greatly benefit cab drivers and EV users alike.

Karnataka boasts a total of 5,880 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, with a significant concentration of 4,462 stations located within the Bengaluru Urban district.

The new charging hub marks a significant step towards sustainable transportation and energy use in Karnataka.