Karnataka leads in India with 5,880 EV charging stations

Though the capital city - Bengaluru - accounts for the bulk of this infrastructure, Karnataka’s EV footprint is expanding beyond metro areas. Tier-2 cities across the State now host 285 public charging stations, while tier-3 towns collectively have 969 stations, according to the data.

Karnataka has emerged as a front-runner in India’s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, boasting the highest number of public charging stations among tier-1 cities, as per the data of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.

The State hosts 5,880 public charging points, of which 4,626 are concentrated in tier-1 cities, primarily Bengaluru. This places Karnataka far ahead of other major States, such as Maharashtra, which has 2,454 stations, and Delhi, which has 1,951, all established within the last five years.

Though the capital city accounts for the bulk of this infrastructure, Karnataka’s EV footprint is expanding beyond metro areas. Tier-2 cities across the State now host 285 public charging stations, while tier-3 towns collectively have 969 stations, according to the data.

Officials from the State Energy Department attribute this success to a mix of environmental concerns and policy foresight.

“The surge in fuel prices and the worsening quality of urban air have pushed electric mobility to the forefront. Karnataka was the first State in India to unveil an EV policy back in 2017, which laid the foundation for today’s progress,” an official said.

At the time of the policy’s roll-out, Karnataka saw an annual EV registration of approximately 11,000 vehicles.

The expansion of charging infrastructure has been powered by a combination of funding mechanisms, including the Central Government’s FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) initiative, investments by the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom), green cess revenue from the Transport Department, and several public-private partnerships.