Bengaluru, India – The Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) is initiating a pilot project to establish a battery-powered Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station near Kempegowda International Airport in Devanahalli. This project is notable as it will utilize second-life batteries—batteries repurposed for different applications after their initial life cycle—to store solar energy for EV charging.
The initiative is being developed in collaboration with GIZ and Nunam, two German-based companies. The charging station will be located approximately 1.5 kilometers from the airport. GIZ and Nunam will invest in the rooftop solar system and the second-life batteries, while Bescom will provide the necessary infrastructure.
According to a Bescom official, “We have a 220 kV Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. (KPTCL) station near the airport where we will set up the station. Twenty-four vehicles can be charged in the EV station at once.” The charging station will feature a rooftop solar installation designed to supply power during daylight hours.
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This battery-powered EV charging station will include two stacks of batteries, each containing 18 batteries, with a combined capacity of 45 kVA for storing excess solar energy. This stored energy will be utilized to power the station during non-solar hours. The official noted, “While solar-powered EV stations have been set up before, second-life batteries have never been used to store energy and supply it to the station.”
Key Facts and Figures:
- Location: 1.5 km from Kempegowda International Airport, Devanahalli
- Charging Capacity: 24 vehicles at once
- Battery Configuration: Two stacks of 18 batteries each, total capacity of 45 kVA
- Completion Timeline: 15 to 20 days remaining, 80% of work completed
- Public EV Charging Stations in Karnataka: 5,765, with 4,462 in Bengaluru Urban district.
The project is expected to be completed within the next 15 to 20 days, with approximately 80% of the work already finished. “It will soon be open for public use,” the official added. Following the project’s implementation and evaluation, Bescom will consider the potential for replication in other locations.
In related news, the Energy Department recently reported that Karnataka leads the country in the number of public EV charging stations, with a total of 5,765 stations, surpassing states such as Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. Of these, 4,462 stations are located in the Bengaluru Urban district.
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