Electricity supply companies (escoms) will work with us to facilitate the installation of EV charging stations. A Transport Department spokesperson stated that we are taking proactive measures to establish EV charging stations along major highways and RTO offices to encourage the use of electric vehicles.
According to data from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Union Ministry of Power, Karnataka leads India in public EV charging infrastructure, with an astounding 5,059 charging stations. With 4,281 charging stations, the Bengaluru Urban district is in the lead and accounts for 85% of Karnataka’s overall infrastructure.
Rise in the use of EV
The Central government is also considering a plan that would allow charging stations to be placed in public areas, at toll booths, and on highways. Locations that fall under National Highways have been identified and submitted to the Centre for approval. The plan has not yet been submitted for the sections that are beneath state highways. A total of 2,880 charging stations are scheduled.
To foster a strong ecosystem for electric vehicles in Karnataka, the State Government released an updated draft policy (2023–28) for EVs. The policy seeks to garner ₹50,000 crore in investment and provide employment opportunities for one lakh people. The Karnataka State Government recently stopped offering tax advantages for luxury electric vehicles. As a result, luxury electric cars costing ₹25 lakh and more are now more expensive. The 10% lifetime tax that is applied during the registration process is the cause of this rise.
The government has announced that it will be removing the tax deductions that were previously linked to the registration of new electric vehicles. This change in tax policy will affect electric cars, SUVs, and buses.
