Overview of the EV charging infrastructure in Bangalore

To encourage the use of electric vehicles, Bangalore has been actively striving to improve its infrastructure for charging them. Around the city, EV charging stations have been installed by a number of public and private organizations. These charging stations are generally found in office buildings, malls, tech parks, lodging establishments, and open parking lots. The Karnataka state government has announced a number of steps to encourage the expansion of the charging infrastructure and has been supportive of the use of electric vehicles. Incentives have been offered to entice private investment in the sector, and laws have been introduced to promote the installation of EV charging stations.

Development of charging infrastructure in Bengaluru

In 2018, BESCOM was designated as the State Nodal Agency for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. In the same year the state of Karnataka inaugurated its first public EV charging station, marking a significant milestone in the adoption of electric vehicles. Also, The first department in Karnataka's corporate fleet hired five EVs, showcasing the government's commitment to promoting electric mobility. KERC installed an AC charging point at its premises, demonstrating its support for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. A proposal was submitted to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) to instruct all government departments to convert 50% of their fleets to electric vehicles. Two DC charging stations were inaugurated at the Secretariat by the Honorable Chief Minister of Karnataka. A Charging Infrastructure Workgroup was formed, comprising members from various government departments and chaired by BESCOM, to drive the development of the charging infrastructure.

In 2019, various departments in Karnataka provided locations for installing EV charging points, laying the foundation for the charging infrastructure network. The Honorable Chief Minister of Karnataka launched the branding logo for EV charging stations, creating a distinct identity for these facilities. A tender was finalized for the installation of 12 DC charging stations and 100 AC charging points.

In the year 2021, In the State Budget, the Honorable Chief Minister of Karnataka announced the establishment of 1000 EV charging stations in the state under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Expression of Interest was invited for installing EV charging points at various BESCOM offices across eight districts, expanding the charging infrastructure network. The Karnataka e-Mobility Workshop 2021 provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss and explore opportunities in the electric mobility sector.

Number and Type of EV charging stations in Bangalore

There are 136 EV Charging units in Bengaluru City are installed of which 30 are DC EV Chargers and 106 are AC EV Chargers, as per BESCOM. In this, 4 DC chargers and 6 AC chargers installed n the year 2018 and 26 DC chargers and 100 AC chargers were installed in 2019 in all BESCOM and non-BESCOM premises.

Charger Type: Bharath DC-001

• Number of Connectors: 2 (GB/T - 1, IEC60309 - 1)
• Charger Capacity (kW): GB/T - 15 kW, IEC60309 - 3.3kW
• Types of Vehicles that can be charged: GB/T - 3/4W, IEC60309 - 2/3/4W
• Number of Chargers: 18
• Number of vehicles that can be charged simultaneously: 36

Charger Type: Bharath AC-001

• Number of Connectors: 3
• Charger Capacity (kW): IEC60309 - 3.3kW x 3
• Types of Vehicles that can be charged: 2/3/4W
• Number of Chargers: 106
• Number of vehicles that can be charged simultaneously: 306

Charger Type: IS17017 DC Wallbox

• Number of Connectors: 2 (CCS Combo2, CHAdeMO)
• Charger Capacity (kW): 25kW
• Types of Vehicles that can be charged: 4W
• Number of Chargers: 12
• Number of vehicles that can be charged simultaneously: 12