India took a bold step forward in sustainable mobility today with the inauguration of the country’s first solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station integrated with second-life battery storage. Located at the BESCOM EV Hub Charging Station, Galamma Circle, near Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, the pilot project marks a major milestone in clean energy and green transport infrastructure.
The event was formally inaugurated by the Hon’ble Energy Minister of Karnataka, Shri K.J. George, and attended by key stakeholders from the energy, mobility, and urban development sectors.
The project, titled Renewable Energy to Electric Vehicle (RE2EV), has been developed under the Green Urban Mobility Innovation Living Lab and supported by GIZ India, BESCOM, and DULT, as part of the SUM-ACA (Sustainable Urban Mobility – Air Quality, Climate Action, Accessibility) initiative. It is a pioneering model for integrating renewable energy generation, battery reuse, and e-mobility infrastructure into a single, efficient platform.
A First-of-Its-Kind Integration of Solar and Second-Life Batteries
This pilot project is India’s first to integrate second-life EV batteries into a public charging station. A 45 kWp rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system feeds into a 100 kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) made up of repurposed batteries. These batteries, while no longer suitable for use in vehicles, retain enough capacity to store and discharge energy efficiently.
The system enables round-the-clock charging by storing solar power generated during the day and utilizing it for EV charging at night or during peak demand periods. This setup ensures energy cost-efficiency, reduces pressure on the grid, and extends the lifecycle of valuable lithium-ion cells, aligning with India’s circular economy and e-waste management goals.
Delta Powers the Charging Backbone
The RE2EV hub is equipped with nine DC fast chargers—five 50kW chargers and four 30kW chargers—supplied by Delta Electronics India, a global leader in energy-efficient power solutions and EV infrastructure.
Delta’s chargers are recognized for high-speed performance, reliability, and modularity, supporting a wide range of electric vehicles including private cars, fleets, and commercial vehicles. With a strong focus on Make in India, Delta has already supplied over 8,000 EV chargers across India and over 3 million globally, reinforcing its position as a trusted partner in advancing EV infrastructure.
Karnataka Leads India’s EV Push
Karnataka continues to emerge as a national leader in electric mobility. With over 5,880 EV charging stations across the state—4,462 of which are in Bengaluru Urban district—and 140 new chargers added this year alone, the state is making strategic investments in charging infrastructure to meet growing demand.
This newly inaugurated hub near the airport is capable of charging up to 23 vehicles simultaneously. The integration of solar energy with second-life batteries ensures sustainable, grid-independent operation and improved charging access in a high-demand transit zone.
Advanced User Convenience and Affordability
Designed for user ease, the RE2EV hub offers a seamless charging experience. Information such as location, availability, and rates can be accessed via BESCOM’s “EV Mitra” app. Additionally, users can initiate charging by scanning a QR code at the station and completing payment through WhatsApp, offering convenience and digital integration.
The hub features 18 fast-charging points and five slow-charging points, with highly competitive tariffs significantly lower than those at private stations—ensuring affordability for both private users and commercial EV fleets.
A Scalable Model for India’s EV Future
The success of the RE2EV pilot underlines the importance of smart, renewable-powered infrastructure in India’s electric mobility mission. By combining solar generation, battery reuse, and fast EV charging, the project addresses three key pillars: sustainability, accessibility, and grid resilience.
With deployment in a high-footfall area near Bengaluru’s international airport, this hub serves as a replicable model for other urban and peri-urban locations across India. It also highlights the potential of leveraging second-life battery technology to support renewable energy goals and reduce environmental impact.
As EV adoption continues to rise, integrated solutions like RE2EV are essential to building a cleaner, more resilient, and self-sustaining charging ecosystem for the future.
Moving Forward
India’s clean mobility transition depends not just on vehicle adoption but also on building the right ecosystem—charging stations, localized manufacturing, energy storage, and smart management systems. Projects like RE2EV show what’s possible when innovation meets intent.
By combining renewable generation, second-life battery storage, and high-performance EV chargers from Delta Electronics, this initiative represents the future of EV infrastructure—clean, circular, and community-focused.
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