Bescom (Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited) is planning to increase the charging network in Karnataka through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), which will be a relief to EV owners.
Bescom (Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited) is planning to increase the charging network in Karnataka through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), which will be a relief to EV owners. Under the PPP model, Bescom intends to set up 530 charging stations across the state within a year. According to sources, the corporation put out bids for 1,190 charging stations through PPP but only received bids for 530 of them.
Bengaluru Urban would receive 150 of these charging stations under PPP, while Bengaluru rural, Mysuru, Shivamogga, and Belagavi districts will each receive 75. Additionally, 20 stations each would be distributed to the Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, and Haveri districts.
“Five private companies came out on top as the highest bidders for the 530 charging stations project under the PPP approach. These businesses will erect charging stations on the designated public property. Even though we haven’t yet given them a letter of authorization, they will have a year to install these charging stations after receiving a work order. Both fast and slow chargers will be present at every station. A senior Bescom official told Moneycontrol that the corporations have the option to install battery switching stations in addition to the charging units within the 10-year contract’s term.
“Private firms will set the charging rates, but they will have to pay a fixed amount per unit (highest quoted bid) to the landowner (government organisations like Bescom),” he explained. As of right now, Bescom charges Rs 7.62 for AC charging and Rs 8.31 for DC charging per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Private chargers, on the other hand, are currently charging EV owners between Rs 20 and Rs 30 per unit. By June 13, there were 2.28 lakh battery-powered vehicles in Karnataka.
Bescom’s extension of charging infrastructure
Bescom intends to add 3,568 charging stations to the 320 that are now in place around the state. This includes 2,380 under the PPP model, 2,380 under the FAME-II scheme, 140 suggested by Bescom, 20 proposed at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) via green-cess funding, and 20 DC fast charging stations along NH48 toll plazas.
The construction of Bescom’s largest EV charging hub has started at Kempegowda International Airport. 20 electric vehicles will be able to receive fast charging at once thanks to this station. The project, which has been given to Siddartha Civil Infra Limited, is expected to grow to become one of the biggest EV charging centres in the city. Due to the rise of electric taxis and other vehicles, there is an increased need for charging stations at the airport.
Bescom is also launching a second programme to install rapid charging stations at toll booths along the Karnataka portion of the NH-48 (Bengaluru-Pune) highway. This action intends to make long-distance electric vehicle charging easier.
