Riding the momentum of its successful electric two- and three-wheeler adoption, Karnataka is now gearing up to electrify heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks. The state government is preparing to submit a detailed proposal under the Centre’s PM E-Drive scheme to establish 1,500 high-capacity EV charging stations across Karnataka, each capable of fast charging in the 60kW to 240kW range – sufficient to power heavy-duty vehicles for long-distance operations.
As per Times of India, with over 6,000 public charging stations already operational, Karnataka leads the country in EV charging infrastructure. The new expansion marks the next phase of the state’s electric mobility push, with a focus on electrifying public and freight transport.
What all does it include?
According to officials, the energy department will identify strategic locations — including bus depots, national and state highways, freight corridors, and logistics hubs — for the new high-capacity stations. The project will involve minimal state expenditure due to substantial central subsidies covering up to 100 per cent of infrastructure components.
Bescom Managing Director N Shivashankara said the formal proposal will soon be submitted to the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries. “The scheme provides 100 per cent subsidy for transmission lines, transformers, and conductors, while other equipment will get up to 70 per cent subsidy,” he noted.
Karnataka has also begun upgrading its slow-charging infrastructure to fast-charging systems to improve convenience. Of the 209 slow-charging stations under Bescom, 184 have already been upgraded. “Fast chargers can fully charge a vehicle within 30-45 minutes, compared to 3-4 hours for slow chargers,” Shivashankara added.
The state has also partnered with oil marketing companies like IOCL, HPCL, and BPCL to install around 400 EV charging points at fuel stations, further strengthening its EV ecosystem.
