India’s first solar-powered EV charging station Inaugurated in Bengaluru

India took a bold step forward in sustainable mobility 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 Energy Minister of Karnataka 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.

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.