India’s first solar-based EV charging facility

The country's first solar-based battery storage electric vehicle charging facility, capable of running 24 hours a day, is under construction near Kempegowda International Airport in Devanahalli, Bengaluru. The initiative, performed in partnership with private companies, is anticipated to be operational by the end of September.

This hub will be equipped with 20 fast charging stations and three common charging points for it to charge 23 vehicles simultaneously. On average, fast charging stations can recharge cars in 30 minutes to 1 hour while regular charging points take longer periods.

The project is a partnership between GIZ and Noonam, that contains high-capacity fast charging stations of 50 kW and 30 kW, as well as common charging outlets of 7.5 KW and 3.3 kW. The hub’s special part is the integrated system which has two 45 kW life batteries which store solar energy by day and enable 24-hour charging power during the night. Furthermore, used car batteries will be used to stock solar energy.

According to the reports, the growing number of electric automobiles in Bengaluru and across the state has prompted the development of such charging infrastructure. While the airport has EV charging stations, they are currently limited to airport cars and private agencies. The new solar-powered centre attempts to close this gap by providing a quick charging solution for the thousands of vehicles that arrive at the airport every day.

The government's objective is to encourage electric vehicles which is demonstrated by its ambitious aim to install 2,500 EV charging stations across Karnataka. The Devanahaill hub acts as a model for the state's future charging infrastructure development efforts. With Karnataka leading the country in electric car adoption, expanding charging infrastructure is critical to meet rising demand.