Solar-powered EV charging station inaugurated near KIA

Bengaluru: A solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station was inaugurated near the Kempegowda International Airport on Monday.

Energy Minister K J George, who inaugurated the facility, said this is the first EV station in India to be powered by second-life batteries. Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda was also present at the event.

“This large-scale EV charging hub, developed through a partnership between 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,” George explained.

The location has been specifically chosen to benefit thousands of cab drivers and the general public who use EVs to travel between the airport and the city.

The charging hub includes a 45 KW solar power system and 100 KWH second-life battery storage capacity. Of the 23 charging points, 18 are fast chargers and five are slow chargers.

“This is the first charging station in the country to provide 24/7 EV charging facilities,” said N Shivashankar, Managing Director, Bescom.

Currently, Karnataka has 5,880 EV charging stations, of which 4,462 are located in Bengaluru Urban district.

For details about the EV charging station’s location, rates, and available slots, download Bescom’s “EV Mitra” application, available on iOS and Android.