To encourage adoption to electric vehicles the government will establish 1,000 electric charging stations in the state, including 500 in Bengaluru, Energy Minister V Sunil Kumar said.

Speaking at a workshop on e-mobility, the minister said establising e-charging centers has gathered pace thanks to public-private partnership.

The state has 136 e-charging stations. Another 172 will be set up in the next phase. In Bengaluru, 152 will be set up under FAME II scheme and the remaining will come up through agreements with different companies,” he said.

Niranjan from Delta Electronics India said charging stations should use renewable energy. Many charging stations are not designed well. Such infrastructure should complement city’s aesthetics,” he said.

During the event, BESCOM signed an MoU with IISL to set up charging stations.

G Kumar Naik, Additional Chief Secretary, Energy department, said upgrading the grid network was necessary to cater to the varied demands.