Core city areas will soon get an additional 123 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The charging stations, some of which will have battery swapping options, will be established by Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd. (Bescom). These are in addition to the 136 charging stations that have already been installed in 74 locations across Bengaluru.
Bescom’s managing director P. Rajendra Cholan told that the power utility has identified 500 locations for EV charging stations. In the first phase, 123 stations will be set up. Tenders have already been floated and are in the final stages of evaluation.
“The charging stations will be up and running within three months. We have earmarked Rs.25 crore for setting up these EV stations, with each unit coming up at Rs.48 lakh,” he said. They will be fast charging stations and have 25-kVA (kilovolt-amps) capacity.
He added that the charging stations would be set up by third parties on land provided by Bescom. Several government agencies and departments, including Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., Bangalore Development Authority, and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, have given land to Bescom to set up EV charging stations. Bescom, which is the nodal agency, will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the identified vendor, whoever bags the tender.
