EV dream meets reality: Karnataka’s electric vehicle users face charging, cost and infrastructure hurdles
Buying an electric car has been a great decision for my daily commute in Bengaluru. It is comfortable to drive, and has reduced my fuel
Buying an electric car has been a great decision for my daily commute in Bengaluru. It is comfortable to drive, and has reduced my fuel expenses. But whenever I travel to my hometown Mangaluru, I have to stop after around 220 km, and spend nearly an hour charging before continuing the journey, says Ramya Kumari, an IT professional from Bellandur. “While EVs are excellent for city driving, long-distance travel requires careful planning around charging stations, which can be frustrating.” Her experience mirrors that of thousands of electric vehicle (EV) owners across Karnataka, where the shift towards cleaner mobility is accelerating, but infrastructure continues to lag behind demand. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently urged citizens to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel, citing the need to conserve foreign exchange and strengthen India’s energy security amid global uncertainties in fuel markets. Electric vehicles have emerged as a key pillar in India’s strategy to reduce oil imports and lower emissions. India’s overall EV market penetration is expected to reach approximately 10% in FY 2026-27, led by robust two-wheeler sales from major manufacturers and growing four-wheeler adoption. While national public charging infrastructure has grown to over 29,000 units, deployment remains urban-centric with a high EV-to-charger ratio (235:1). Karnataka spearheads this deployment, housing 23% of the nation’s chargers, though 75% of these are deployed in Bengaluru, say industry observers. Indeed, for Bengaluru residents, EVs have become increasingly attractive due to soaring fuel prices, rising environmental awareness and government incentives. Yet, once drivers venture beyond the city limits, concerns over charging infrastructure often overshadow the benefits, like in the case of Ramya. Says Ramya, “Whenever I drive to Mangaluru, I usually stop around Sakleshpur, where a limited number of charging points are available. During weekends or holiday periods, there can be queues. Even though the number of charging stations is increasing, it is still nowhere near sufficient for the growing number of EV users. The biggest challenge is range anxiety, constantly worrying about whether the next charging station will be available and operational before the battery runs low.” The Bengaluru-Mangaluru route, one of Karnataka’s busiest inter-city corridors, illustrates the challenge. Drivers often have to plan journeys around available charging points rather than choosing the most convenient route or schedule. Charging duration Apart from the availability of charging stations, charging duration remains a major concern. Unlike conventional fuel vehicles that can be refuelled within minutes, EVs require significantly more time. Depending on battery size and charging capacity, a standard home charger can take anywhere between six and 12 hours to fully charge a vehicle. Fast chargers can reduce charging times to between 30 minutes and one hour for a substantial battery refill, but such facilities remain limited, especially outside cities. For apartment dwellers in Bengaluru, even home charging is not always straightforward. Praveen S., a resident of J.P. Nagar who owns an electric vehicle, said that access to charging infrastructure within residential complexes remains a challenge.
The BriefWire