Bengaluru Launches Solar EV Hub With 23 Charging Points And Battery Reuse Tech
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The construction of an EV charging hub near the airport has been done keeping in mind the cab drivers and the public who use EVs to travel between the airport and the city.
A solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station was unveiled near the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on June 2. Touted as the first of its kind, the solar energy is stored in old car batteries at this EV charging station. The construction of an EV charging hub near the airport has been specifically done keeping in mind thousands of cab drivers and the general public who use EVs to travel between the airport and the city.
Energy Minister KJ George inaugurated the facility in the presence of Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, BESCOM Managing Director Dr N Shivashankar, B.A.S., and other officials. Speaking at the event, the energy minister said that this is the first EV station in India to be powered by second-life batteries.
'This large-scale EV charging hub, developed through a partnership between Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) and the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), can charge 23 vehicles simultaneously. At this station, solar energy is stored in old car batteries. Solar power generated during the day is stored using this battery system and supplied to electric vehicles around the clock," he explained.
The energy minister added that the Karnataka government is fully committed to supporting the growing demand for Electric vehicles in the state and expanding charging stations and related infrastructure. 'Karnataka's EV policy further strengthens this commitment. The newly inaugurated EV charging station will greatly benefit cab drivers and the general public using electric vehicles," he said.
The charging hub includes a 45-kilowatt solar power system and 100 KWH second-life battery storage capacity. Of the 23 charging points, 18 have fast-charging points and five have slow chargers.
Managing Director of Bescom, N. Shivashankar, claimed that this EV station is the first in the country to provide 24/7 EV charging facilities.
Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda said, 'It's a matter of pride that a new EV charging station has come up near Bengaluru airport, benefiting cab drivers and EV users. With around 10,000 cabs operating daily—many of them electric—this facility shows Karnataka's continued leadership in EV initiatives," reported Money Control.
As per data from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Union Ministry of Power, Karnataka is the first Indian state to introduce an EV policy in 2017. Currently, it is at the forefront of EV infrastructure in the country, with a total of 5,880 charging stations across the state. Of these, around 4,462 EV charging stations are located in the Bengaluru urban district. Karnataka is followed by Maharashtra, Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
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