Karnataka EV Chargers is inching closer to becoming India’s electric mobility leader. The announcement of 1,500 new high-capacity EV charging stations in the state. The scheme, initiated under the Central Government’s PM E-Drive initiative. It was officially announced on October 20, 2025, by the state’s Energy Department in association with the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
Enhancing Karnataka EV Chargers Infrastructure
The proposed network of charging stations will span major areas such as:
- National and state highways for intercity electric vehicle travel.
- Bus depots and freight terminals to serve heavy-duty vehicles.
- Urban clusters such as Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Mangaluru. There is maximum demand for charging.
- Each station will have fast-charging units of 60kW to 240kW. Able to charge electric cars, buses, and trucks in less than one hour.
Partnership and Funding Support
As per N. Shivashankara, BESCOM Managing Director, the central government will fund almost all infrastructure expenses.
Key points are:
- 100% of the cost of upstream transmission equipment and transformers.
- 70% of the cost of the rest of the equipment and installation.
- BESCOM and oil PSUs such as IOCL, HPCL, and BPCL will together develop around 400 stations at fuel outlets.
- This joint funding approach ensures quick roll-out without too much financial burden on the state.
Karnataka EV Chargers: Lead in the National EV Push
Currently, Karnataka has over 6,000 operational EV chargers. Representing nearly 20% of India’s total network. Over the past year, the state upgraded 184 slow chargers to faster models to cut charging times from two hours to less than 45 minutes.
In addition to personal mobility, the initiative integrates with the e-bus electrification plan. It aims to bring 4,500 battery-powered buses to state transport routes by 2026.
ELCTRIK Speaks
The initial 300 chargers will become operational by March 2026. The rest will be installed in phased clusters. The network will also have real-time digital monitoring on an AI-based platform, allowing EV users to find, book, and pay with ease.
