Bengaluru, May 12: Union Heavy Industries Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy announced on Tuesday that Karnataka will receive 1,243 electric vehicle (EV) chargers under the PM E-Drive scheme, with an investment of ₹123.26 crores. This announcement was made during a conference aimed at enabling nationwide EV charging infrastructure. Kumaraswamy highlighted that Bengaluru is emerging as one of India’s leading EV charging hubs.
He stated that proposals worth ₹503.86 crores have already been approved for the installation of 4,874 EV chargers across various states and central public sector enterprises. The approved proposals include those from public sector oil companies such as HPCL, IOCL, and BPCL, as well as states like Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
Kumaraswamy emphasized India’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2047, aligning with the vision of a developed India. He noted that the automotive sector contributes over 7% to the country’s GDP and supports nearly 30 million livelihoods, making it central to India’s clean mobility transition.
He acknowledged the contributions of public sector oil marketing companies like BPCL, IOCL, and HPCL in enhancing charging infrastructure across the country. Under the FAME-II scheme, these companies have installed 8,932 EV chargers nationwide with a subsidy support of ₹873.5 crores from the Heavy Industries Ministry, including 721 chargers in Karnataka alone.
The Minister also praised the role of charge point operators and industry players like Tata Power, ChargeZone, and Mahindra & Mahindra in strengthening India’s EV ecosystem through innovation and implementation capabilities.
Kumaraswamy mentioned that work is underway on a national integrated EV charging app, Unified Bharat E-Charge (UBC), aimed at enabling EV users to find, use, and pay for multiple operators’ charging networks through a single reliable interface.
Comparing the potential impact of digital payments through UPI, he stated that this initiative will significantly strengthen India’s EV charging ecosystem. He highlighted several key initiatives launched by the Heavy Industries Ministry to position India as a global hub for future mobility technologies, including the ₹18,100 crore PLI ACC scheme for battery cell manufacturing and the ₹25,938 crore PLI auto scheme promoting clean vehicles.
Describing the PM E-Drive scheme as the cornerstone of India’s electric vehicle transition, Kumaraswamy noted that this ₹10,900 crore initiative is accelerating the adoption of electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, and trucks while establishing a robust nationwide EV charging infrastructure.
He further mentioned that ₹2,000 crores have been allocated specifically for expanding public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles across the country. Kumaraswamy assured that, in coordination with the Heavy Industries Ministry, the Ministry of Power, state governments, and industry stakeholders, efforts are being made to ensure grid readiness, standardization, and digital integration to support the rapid growth of electric mobility in the country.
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