Karnataka has 6,805 EV charging stations, second-highest in India

As of July 29, 2024, Karnataka has installed 6,805 electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS), making it the second-highest in India with Maharashtra having 6,985 stations, according to data released by the Ministry of Heavy Industries in response to a Rajya Sabha question on August 7. The figure represents nearly 13% of the total 52,718 charging stations across the country.

Karnataka's infrastructure is notably more developed than its neighboring southern states, with Tamil Nadu having 3,839 stations, Telangana 3,739, and Kerala 3,399. Andhra Pradesh follows with 1,976 stations, while Goa has 314. Other states like Uttar Pradesh with 4,493 stations, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, and Rajasthan with 2,827 stations also feature prominently.

The data reveals significant variation among states, with several northeastern states and smaller Union Territories having fewer than 100 stations. The Ministry clarified that there is no centralized data on fast and slow charging stations, and setting up EV charging stations is an unlicensed activity, allowing private players to establish stations following guidelines issued by the Ministry of Power on September 17, 2024.

The PM E-DRIVE scheme allows central ministries, public sector enterprises, states, and union territories, along with their PSUs to submit proposals for public charging stations. Karnataka's success in EV infrastructure is attributed to early and proactive policy decisions, particularly its 2017 EV policy. Experts suggest that while the current focus is on expanding the network, improving interoperability, standardizing charging tariffs, and providing real-time charger availability are crucial to enhancing the user experience and reducing range anxiety.