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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Solar-integrated, second-life battery powered EV charging station inaugurated in Bengaluru
What is being termed as the first-of-its-kind solar-integrated EV charging station, powered by second-life batteries, in India, was inaugurated near Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on June 2. Energy Minister K. J. George, who inaugurated the facility, 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 round-the-clock,' he explained. The hub includes a 45 kilowatt (KW) solar power system and 100 KWH second-life battery storage capacity. It has 18 fast-charging points and five slow-charging ones. 'This is the first charging station in the country to provide 24/7 EV charging facilities,' said N. Shivashankar, Managing Director, Bescom. The Energy Minister said that the government is fully committed to support the growing demand for EVs in Karnataka, 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 station, which was awaiting inauguration for almost a year now, has been operational for the last few months.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
EV charging stations usage goes up in Karnataka as number of EV users increases
In the last few months, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) has seen an increase in electricity consumption in their public Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations. While 14,648 charging sessions delivering electricity of 65,278 kWh were registered in November 2024, the number went up by more than two times in the month of April 2025, as 29,538 charging sessions were registered delivering around 1,85,051 kWh electricity. Bescom officials attributed this rise to the increasing number of EVs and charging stations in its jurisdiction. 'The number of EVs, especially around Bengaluru, has been going up consistently over the years. We have increased the number of public charging stations to cater to this demand. We have added 140 new stations since the beginning of this year,' said a senior official from Bescom. According to the data available on Vahan dashboard, the official portal of the the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), 19,284 new EVs were registered across Karnataka from January 2025 till date. Between 2022 and 2023, the State saw a sharp spike in the number of EV registrations with 1,52,663 new EVs registered in 2023. In 2022, 95,839 new EVs were registered. In 2024, the number of new EV registrations (battery operated vehicles and pure EV) was 2,03,453. Increase in demand EV sellers have seen an increase in demand in the last few years. 'Bengaluru has been one of the top three performing cities for Oben Electric, reflecting the city's growing appetite for sustainable, tech-driven mobility solutions. Over the past two years, demand for EVs here has seen a significant upswing,' said Dinkar Agrawal, founder, CTO, COO at Oben Electric. 'Several factors have contributed to this growth. Karnataka's EV policies played a key role by offering demand-side incentives, supporting local manufacturing, and enabling faster infrastructure deployment. Bengaluru's early adopter mindset, environmental consciousness, and tech-forward population further accelerated this shift. The steady expansion of public and private charging networks across the city has helped ease range anxiety, making EVs a practical choice for daily commuting,' he said. EV buyers, on the other hand, say they are prompted by economic reasons. Sriharsha. M., a resident of Jayanagar, who bought an electric two-wheeler in October 2024, said, 'Switching to an EV has saved both time and money, as there are no more long waits at petrol stations. My running cost has dropped significantly. The fact that I will be contributing to a cleaner environment also made me want to buy an EV.' The challenge is to scale up at speed The latest data provided by the Central Government shows that Karnataka has the highest number of public EV charging stations (5,880) in India, out of which over 4,000 are in Bengaluru. However, with the increasing number of vehicles, motorists say that the existing infrastructure is not enough. Many of them complain that the public charging stations set up by both private companies and the government are not free of glitches. 'Sometimes, the apps which I use show that a certain public charger is working, but when I go there, it will be out of service. I do not find charging stations nearby in all the areas. The need of the hour is an increase in the number of public chargers across Bengaluru. Those who set up chargers should ensure that it is in the right condition to provide services to EV users,' said Shalini. Y.P., an electric two-wheeler user from Thalaghattapura. EV sellers opine that increasing and enhancing the infrastructure will provide more commuters with the confidence to switch to EVs. 'While Bengaluru has made commendable strides in building EV infrastructure, with over 4,400 charging stations already operational, the challenge now lies in scaling up with speed. Infrastructure needs to be not just available but ubiquitous, user-friendly, and integrated seamlessly into daily routines,' said Mr. Agrawal. 'For a leading EV city like Bengaluru, the next phase of growth depends on deepening infrastructure access across residential, commercial, and transit zones. As electric two-wheeler adoption accelerates the gaps in convenience and charging speed while uniformity across platforms could influence consumer confidence.' Battery powered charging station near Devanahalli After a long wait for formal inauguration, Bescom's first-of-its-kind initiative — an EV charging station powered by second-life batteries — has begun operations near the Kempegowda International Airport at Devanahalli. In February, 1,606 charging sessions were recorded at the station while in March, the number more than doubled with 3,804 charging sessions. In April, 5,069 charging sessions were recorded at the station. This charging station has a rooftop solar installation, which powers the chargers during day time. The excess solar energy is stored in batteries and is used to power the chargers in non-solar hours.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Pre-monsoon showers cause large-scale damage to power infrastructure
Heavy pre-monsoon showers that resulted in large-scale damage in Bengaluru did not spare the power infrastructure. So far, 1,465 electricity poles and 190 transformers have been damaged in May. Officials estimate that another 600 to 700 poles might get damaged in the remaining 10 days. The losses in FY 2025-26 owing to rain damage stand at ₹65.3 crore. This April, 1,880 electricity poles and 151 transformers were damaged owing to rain in the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) region. The damage to electricity poles in April increased by more than threefold compared with that in the same month in 2024, when 558 poles were impacted. The number of transformers damaged also went up drastically, as only nine were damaged in April last year. Bescom officials attributed this increase in damage to the increased intensity of winds and rain in April this year. 'The number of effective rainy days was much higher this April when compared with last year. There was also heavy wind, and it was significantly more than the previous year. While intensive rainfall started in the last week of April in 2024, this year, it started in the second week of April itself. That is why the numbers are higher, and it is difficult to compare the quantum,' said a senior official. He added, 'The uprooting of trees has also increased due to loose soil as a result of multiple civic works going on, especially in Bengaluru. When one tree falls, it does not damage just one pole, but many others along that line.' Over the years, power infrastructure has been consistently damaged during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. In 2022–23, the estimated loss because of the damage was ₹25.52 crore, in 2023–24, it was ₹15.22 crore, and in 2024–25, it was ₹30.2 crore. This year, the estimated loss has been pegged at ₹6.52 crore so far. Bescom officials say there are no permanent solutions to this problem due to the weather. 'We have associated with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and the Forest Department for pre-monsoon maintenance. Without that, the damage will be two or three times more. We provide the necessary manpower and financial and material assistance to our sub-divisions, and they begin the maintenance work after Sankranti (mid-January) so that the damage can be reduced,' the senior official said. However, experts have repeatedly pointed out that a scientific approach to maintenance and a successful implementation of the aerially bunched cable and underground cable programmes can almost prevent such damage from occurring.
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Bengaluru's Kendriya Vihar apartment gets notice over renewal of NOC
BENGALURU: The Kendriya Vihar Apartments in Yelahanka, often in the spotlight during monsoon season for severe flooding, with residents forced to use boats, are once again making headlines. This time, the Fire and Emergency Services Department has written to the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM), requesting a power disconnection due to issues related to the renewal of the No Objection Certificate (NOC). The department has also given one week to comply with the notice to get a renewal. However, the apartment residents' association say a proposal was sent in February to the department. It is alleged that even during the construction stage, no permission or clearance certificate was sought from the department by the association.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
8 villages tap solar power, help Bescom meet summer surge
1 2 Bengaluru: Halkurike, a little-known hamlet in Tiptur taluk of Tumakuru district, helps Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) manage peak demand every day. It is among nine villages in districts around Bengaluru which have not only reduced the burden on Bescom 's grid by running IP sets on solar power but also feed about 68Mw to the grid daily from their own plants commissioned under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM Kusum-C) project. Surrounded by paddy fields, arecanut and coconut plantations, these villages in Chikkaballapur, Chitradurga, Tumakuru and Davanagere districts used to consume a lot of power to operate IP sets. Now, these IP sets run on solar power generated locally. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Bescom provides four hours of three-phase power during the day and three hours at night in a phased manner to help farmers irrigate their fields. "But the demand from residential and commercial consumers in and around Bengaluru shoots up during summer making it a challenge to manage both demands and ensure no blackout on either side," said an engineer from Bescom. N Shivashankara, managing director, Bescom, said: "Now, power from these plants is fed to nearby substations, ensuring quality power to farmers during the day. This reduces the burden on the grid as the demand is met locally." The state govt has chosen multiple agencies to execute the project across Karnataka. "They set up and operate solar plants for a 25-year duration. The govt only identifies land. The agencies take this land on lease for a minimum of Rs 25,000 per acre per year. "While it costs Rs 3.5 crore to Rs 4 crore to generate one megawatt of power, the agencies get a subsidy of slightly over Rs 1 crore from the central govt. We buy power from them at Rs 2.9 to Rs 3.1 per unit," an engineer said. Gaurav Gupta, additional chief secretary (energy), said 150-plus locations have been chosen for the Kusum-C project in Bescom limits alone. "In the first phase, 96 locations have been indentified, and the remaining 54 will be executed during the second phase. Work began on 50-60 stations and eight of them are already operational." Mission to save 2,400Mw daily Spread over 20 acres, the Rs 4 crore solar plant at Halkurike Revana Siddeshwara Betta has 8,020 solar panels each of 550w. Together they generate about 4Mw of energy daily. "The plants get sunlight for about eight hours a day, generating 8,000 units (9.6 lakh units a month)," said Manohar TL, assistant executive engineer, Bescom at Tiptur. As many as 2,531 IP sets of different power capacities within a radius of 8-10km are linked to Halkurike feeder, which collectively consume about 30 lakh units per month. "Of these 30 lakh units, 10 lakh units are drawn directly from the local solar plant. This is a major relief as it takes off nearly half the load on the grid. Saved power can be supplied to other consumers," Manohar said. Bescom hopes to save 2,400Mw daily when all its planned 150 Kusum-C stations are operational. Energy minister KJ George said: "Our objective is to generate 3,000Mw under the Kusum-C scheme over the next 18 months. By this monsoon, we intend to add at least 300Mw of solar power to the grid through these plants. We have been appealing to MLAs to help us identify land within their constituencies for speedy implementation of the project."
