Thu Apr 10 06:58:43 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka Leads India in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

**Bengaluru, April 10, 2025** – Karnataka has emerged as the leader in India’s electric vehicle (EV) revolution, boasting the highest number of public charging stations among tier-1 cities, according to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). With a total of 5,880 public charging points, and 4,626 of those in tier-1 cities, primarily Bengaluru, Karnataka significantly outpaces other major states like Maharashtra (2,454 stations) and Delhi (1,951 stations).

This achievement is attributed to a combination of factors, including the state’s proactive 2017 EV policy, rising fuel prices, worsening air quality, and investments from various sources, such as the central government’s FAME initiative, Bescom, green cess revenue, and public-private partnerships. The state’s early adoption of an EV policy, implemented before many other states, laid the groundwork for this success. At the time of the policy’s launch, Karnataka registered approximately 11,000 EVs annually.

The growth extends beyond Bengaluru. Tier-2 and tier-3 cities in Karnataka now host 285 and 969 public charging stations respectively. Further bolstering its commitment, the Karnataka government’s 2025-26 budget includes plans for a state-of-the-art EV testing track, an EV manufacturing and research cluster, and an investment of ₹50,000 crore aimed at creating 100,000 jobs in the clean mobility sector. The state also plans to deploy 14,750 electric buses, including 9,000 for the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). A financial assistance scheme offering up to ₹3 lakh to unemployed individuals from backward communities for electric four-wheeler purchases further supports EV adoption.

While celebrating this progress, experts emphasize the need to improve interoperability, standardize pricing, and provide real-time availability data to enhance user experience. Expanding charging infrastructure to tier-2 and tier-3 cities and along national highways is also crucial for widespread EV adoption, they add. Nationally, India currently has 26,367 public charging stations, highlighting significant regional disparities that need addressing.

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