- Karnataka plans to develop a 100-acre Electric Vehicle City near Bengaluru
- The EV City will include testing zones, labs, and fast-charging test beds
- A Centre of Excellence and talent academy will support EV and battery tech
The Karnataka government has announced plans to develop a cutting-edge Electric Vehicle (EV) City near Bengaluru. The move is aimed at consolidating the state's position in India's fast-growing EV sector. The proposed facility, spread across around 100 acres within a two-hour drive from Bengaluru, is designed to accommodate original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as well as suppliers and innovators in the EV space.
The EV City will feature a 50-acre integrated proving and testing zone with outdoor test tracks, urban road simulations, gradient and hill testing, EV software and cybersecurity labs, and fast-charging test beds. These facilities will support vehicle performance evaluation, road-worthiness certification, and component benchmarking.
According to reports, IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge said that the planned city will include a centre of excellence for electric vehicles and battery technologies. It will also have a skilling and talent academy to train professionals for the sector.
He also added that Karnataka was one of the first states to introduce a dedicated EV and Energy Storage Policy. The minister reportedly said that the state has nearly 5,400 public charging stations and contributes close to 20% of India's electric vehicle sales.
Representatives from leading companies such as Ather Energy, Bosch, Kinetic Group, Continental, BillionE Mobility, Indofast Energy, Yulu, Evotron Motorsports and Sun Mobility participated in the consultation.
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Opportunities For Startups
Start-ups are set to benefit from Karnataka's proposed EV City through access to shared infrastructure and advanced facilities at lower costs. The government plans to introduce a “pay-as-you-use” model for common resources, making it easier for new players to enter the electric vehicle sector.
The city will also feature a Centre of Excellence for EVs and battery technologies, along with a skilling and talent academy, offering entrepreneurs access to trained professionals for both white-collar and shop-floor roles.
Support For MSMEs
Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are set to benefit from Karnataka's EV City. The facility will offer dedicated space as well as shared infrastructure for MSMEs, SME suppliers and incubators. This setup is expected to provide smaller players with access to advanced resources and facilities that were previously beyond their reach.
IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge said that the city will also house a centre of excellence for EVs and battery technologies, complemented by a skilling and talent academy to train professionals across the sector.
By combining testing facilities, shared infrastructure, a Centre of Excellence and a talent academy, Karnataka's EV City is designed to create a self-sustaining ecosystem for EV makers, start-ups and MSMEs alike.
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