Bengaluru's power supplier sets up EV accelerator cell to promote battery-run vehicles

Bescom's EV charging station

Bengaluru's power supplier, Bescom (Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited), has established an EV accelerator cell to promote battery-powered vehicles.

A senior Bescom official told Moneycontrol that Deloitte has been hired as a consultant to execute the project at a cost of Rs 83 lakh.

"The cell became operational last month and will chart out programmes to increase EV adoption in the state. In 2023, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Union Ministry of Power, instructed all states and electricity supply companies (Escoms) to set up EV accelerator cells to promote EVs," the official said.

States like Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh have also established EV accelerator cells.

The EV accelerator cell in Karnataka will serve as a single-window entity for all tasks related to developing the e-mobility ecosystem. It will act as a central point of contact for EV users, providing information on incentives, charging stations installed across the state, EV-specific tariffs etc

The cell will also play a crucial role in phasing out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles across all categories, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheel passenger cars, vans, and buses, including inter-city fleets.

Also, read: Karnataka tops in number of public charging stations for EVs in India: Govt data

The cell will be responsible for compiling monthly data and maintaining a comprehensive database of public EV charging stations, battery charging stations (BCS), battery swapping stations (BSS), and segment-wise EV registrations. It will collaborate with land-owning agencies, both public and private, to identify suitable locations for setting up charging stations and coordinate with various departments, such as municipal corporations and transport authorities, to draft and update the state’s e-mobility action plan.

The cell will focus on increasing public awareness about electric mobility by organising webinars, workshops, roadshows, and other initiatives under the ‘Go Electric’ campaign. “It will assess the impact of EV charging on the power grid, carry out feasibility studies for efficient infrastructure planning, and consult with stakeholders to address challenges faced by charge point operators” said a Bescom official.

The cell will also facilitate the development of proposals, presentations, and policy recommendations to accelerate the deployment of EV-related infrastructure and assist Bescom in preparing bid documents for e-mobility projects.

Karnataka's EV accelerator cell will also establish an EV Forum, including representatives from government departments, businesses, industry associations, research organisations, and international players, to streamline the EV transition in the state. The forum will ensure interdepartmental coordination to frame regulatory mechanisms and progressive policies to enhance public charging station deployment.

Statistics from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Union Ministry of Power, shows that Karnataka leads the country with 5,765 public charging stations. It is followed by Maharashtra with 3,728 stations, Uttar Pradesh with 1,989, Delhi with 1,941, Tamil Nadu with 1,413, Kerala with 1,212, and Rajasthan with 1,129. These stations include facilities set up by private firms and public sector undertakings. Karnataka is planning to launch a Clean Mobility Policy aimed at attracting Rs 50,000 crore in investments and creating one lakh jobs.

Also, read: Global AI Conclave: Karnataka’s Clean Mobility Policy to create ecosystem for companies like Tesla