Karnataka Unveils Ambitious Plan for Dedicated Electric Vehicle City Near Bengaluru
The Karnataka government has announced a groundbreaking initiative to establish a state-of-the-art Electric Vehicle City on approximately 100 acres of land near Bengaluru. This strategic move aims to solidify the state's position as a leader in India's rapidly growing electric mobility sector.
Comprehensive Infrastructure and Innovation Hub
The proposed EV City will be located within a two-hour drive from Bengaluru and will function as an end-to-end innovation and validation hub. It is designed to serve original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), MSMEs, SMEs, and incubators with common facilities and advanced infrastructure.
A key feature of the development will be a 50-acre integrated proving and testing zone, which will include:
- Outdoor test tracks for vehicle performance evaluation
- Urban road simulations to replicate real-world driving conditions
- Gradient and hill testing facilities
- EV software and cybersecurity laboratories
- Fast-charging test beds for charging infrastructure validation
The facility will also provide comprehensive services for vehicle performance evaluation, road-worthiness certification, and component benchmarking, creating a one-stop solution for EV development and validation.
Center of Excellence and Talent Development
IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge revealed that the EV City will host a center of excellence dedicated to electric vehicles and battery technologies. This center will focus on research, development, and innovation in critical EV components and systems.
Additionally, the government plans to establish a skilling and talent academy within the complex to train professionals required in the EV sector. This educational component aims to address the growing demand for skilled workforce in electric mobility and battery technology domains.
Karnataka's Leadership in EV Adoption
Minister Kharge emphasized Karnataka's prominent position in India's EV ecosystem during the announcement. The state was among the first in the country to introduce a dedicated Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Policy, creating an enabling environment for industry growth.
Karnataka currently hosts:
- The highest number of EV startups in India
- The highest concentration of OEMs and component manufacturers
- Nearly 5,400 public charging stations across the state
The state accounts for approximately 20 percent of India's total electric vehicle sales, demonstrating strong market adoption and consumer acceptance of electric mobility solutions.
Industry Collaboration and Participation
The announcement came during a high-level industry consultation chaired by Minister Priyank Kharge, which saw participation from over 30 leading EV and battery technology companies. Industry representatives from prominent organizations including Ather Energy, Bosch, Kinetic Group, Continental, Sun Mobility, and Yulu attended the deliberations, indicating strong industry support for the initiative.
This collaborative approach between government and industry stakeholders is expected to accelerate the development of Karnataka's EV ecosystem and position the state as a global hub for electric vehicle innovation and manufacturing.
