Karnataka to Set Up 1,500 High-Capacity EV Charging Stations Under PM E-Drive Scheme.

Karnataka is accelerating efforts to electrify heavy vehicles, including buses and trucks, by preparing to submit a detailed proposal under the Centre's PM E-Drive scheme to establish 1,500 high-capacity EV charging stations across the state. These stations will support fast charging with capacities ranging from 60kW to 240kW, sufficient to power heavy vehicles for long-distance operations. This move expands Karnataka’s electric mobility program beyond two- and three-wheelers, where the state already leads India with over 6,000 public charging stations.

The energy department plans to identify strategic locations for the new charging infrastructure, including bus depots, national and state highways, freight corridors, and logistics hubs. The financial burden on Karnataka is expected to be minimal due to central subsidies covering 80% to 100% of project costs for various components, aligning with the objectives of the PM E-Drive scheme launched in October 2024. Karnataka has also requested central support for deploying a fleet of e-buses under the initiative.

N Shivashankara, Managing Director of Bescom, the nodal agency for EV infrastructure in Karnataka, noted that the scheme offers a 100% subsidy on upstream components such as transmission lines, transformers, and conductors, while other equipment receives up to 70% subsidy. Bescom is also upgrading existing slow chargers to fast chargers to improve charging times and user convenience. The state has partnered with major oil companies to install around 400 EV charging points at petrol stations across Karnataka.

With around 29,000 EV charging stations nationwide as of August 2025, Karnataka leads with 6,097 stations, maintaining its position as a national leader in EV infrastructure and contributing significantly to India’s clean mobility goals.