Bescom plans 650 e-vehicle charging stations across Karnataka; 100 in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) has proposed to set up 650 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across Karnataka, 100 of which will be in Bengaluru.

The proposal is under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle (FAME) scheme. Bescom said Bengaluru will be its major focus, 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% 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 recently, but is yet to get the nod from Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Sreenath said. With Bescom planning to procure 25 more e lectric vehicles, four additional charging stations will be built at its corporate office.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes