In a significant move for cab aggregators and electric vehicle (EV) owners, the Department of Energy has announced the establishment of an EV charging station at Bangalore Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). Bangalore Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (BESCOM) will implement the innovative use of second-life car batteries for electricity storage, marking a first in the country with the ‘Second Life Battery Storage EV Charging Hub.’
The charging hub will be situated at BESCOM’s existing 224KV power station, just 1.5 km from the airport’s parking zone. It is designed to charge up to 24 vehicles simultaneously, with three fast-charging points also being installed.
BESCOM is partnering with GIG and Noonam companies for this project, utilizing used car batteries for efficient power storage. This initiative is a testament to Bangalore’s leadership in the EV sector, with 4.80 lakh EVs registered in Karnataka, including 4,462 public charging stations in Bangalore alone. According to a Bureau of Energy Efficiency report released on August 19, Karnataka boasts a total of 5,765 public EV charging stations, the highest in the country.
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Key Features of the EV Charging Hub:
- High Capacity: 400 kW system capable of charging 23 EVs at the same time.
- Solar-Powered: The country’s first EV charging station to utilize solar power, offering round-the-clock charging.
- Fast Charging: Equipped with 20 fast-charging points.
- Advanced Battery Integration: Includes two 45 KV second-life batteries for energy storage.
