According to a Bescom source cited by Deccan Herald (DH), India’s first solar EV charging station powered by second-hand batteries and located 1.5 km from Kempegowda International Airport would be operational by the end of October.
It is anticipated that Bescom and the German company GIZ will work together to serve about 1,000 electric vehicles (EVs) per day, including the 175 EV taxis that Kempegowda International Airport deployed.
Batteries classified as second-life are those that have completed their five-year life cycle. These batteries can, however, be charged and utilized for a further five years.
According to the newspaper, the proposal seeks to avoid the disposal of used batteries while also reducing expenditures. The structure is 70 meters long and has 23 chambers. The station can charge up to 23 cars at once, and each compartment is 7 meters long and 2.5 meters broad.
According to DH, the station will also provide AC and DC charging at the outlet, with prices of Rs 7.5 and Rs 6.7 per unit, respectively. It will also be open for business twenty-four hours a day. The EV Mitra app allows beneficiaries to access charging stations.
The 400 kV EV charging station has a power capacity. It was reported to have cost Rs 4 crore. Out of the 400 kV needed, it is reportedly anticipated that the solar panels will only provide 45 kV. The Karnataka Electricity Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) grid near the charging station would supply the remaining electricity.
In an attempt to ensure that no energy produced by a solar arrangement is lost, the charging station has a metering device installed to track the amount of electricity produced. The facility that connects KPTCL to the charging station will be utilized to feed extra solar energy into the grid.
Even though Karnataka currently has the most EV charging stations—nearly 5,700—it is going to be the first state to install an EV charger that runs on solar energy using second-hand batteries.
