Karnataka plans EV City near Bengaluru

The Government of Karnataka has announced plans to develop a large scale Electric Vehicle (EV) City near Bengaluru to strengthen the state’s electric mobility and advanced battery technology ecosystem.

The proposal was outlined during an industry consultation chaired by Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Priyank Kharge. The meeting was attended by representatives from more than 30 electric vehicle and battery technology companies. The proposed EV City is planned on around 100 acres of land within a two hour travel distance from Bengaluru.

According to the state government, the EV City is envisaged as a shared hub for innovation, product development, and validation. It will offer common infrastructure for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and incubators. A key component of the project is a 50 acre integrated proving and testing facility, which will include test tracks, simulated urban roads, hill climb sections, software and cybersecurity laboratories, and fast charging test infrastructure.

Minister Kharge said the project will also house a centre of excellence for electric vehicles and battery technologies, along with a dedicated skilling academy. The academy is expected to focus on training in manufacturing processes, software systems, and battery technologies. He added that Karnataka’s early adoption of a dedicated EV and Energy Storage Policy has provided a strong base for such initiatives.

The state government noted that Karnataka has registered more than 717,000 electric vehicles so far. Of this, electric two wheelers account for over 600,000 units, broadly in line with national adoption patterns.

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