The Karnataka state government unveiled a modified draft Electric Vehicle policy (2023-28) with the aim of attracting an investment of Rs 50,000 crore and generating job opportunities for one lakh individuals in the coming five years.
Minister M B Patil expressed the intent of the proposed policy to position Karnataka as a trailblazer in electric mobility, emphasizing sustainability, equitable growth, innovation, and the development of a robust EV ecosystem statewide.
During discussions with EV industry representatives, Patil revealed plans for a joint meeting of ministers to finalize the E-mobility policy and responded to industry recommendations by announcing the development of model EV cities in Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Hubballi-Dharwad, as well as Mysuru, among other locations.
In collaboration with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the government is in talks to establish electric vehicle charging stations at 10 major toll booths along the Bengaluru-Pune national highway.
Gunjan Krishna, Commissioner, Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Karnataka, presented the draft policy highlights, identifying Gauribidanur (Chikkaballapur) and Chikkamalligewada (Dharwad) as potential locations for large EV clusters.
The suggested updated draft policy responds to the approaching expiration of Karnataka’s existing EV policy by offering enhanced capital subsidies for testing centers, broader incentives encompassing cell components, and backing for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
The draft additionally presents a rental subsidy for properties exceeding 10,000 square feet while retaining the current stamp duty exemption. To expedite EV adoption, the proposed policy commits to swiftly identifying land parcels suitable for charging stations aligned with power infrastructure.
Karnataka, with approximately 2.5 lakh EVs registered and 700 charging stations, stands as the third-highest in EV registrations nationally, boasting an eight per cent adoption rate and demonstrating the state’s commitment to reshaping the mobility landscape.
Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) will play a pivotal role in skill development for the evolving EV industry, reducing costs by 40 per cent and shortening training tenure by 2-4 months.
