The shared charging stations are powered by renewable energy and will support about 5,500 electric vehicles in Bengaluru by 2030.

Bengaluru, September 16, 2024 – The Climate Pledge has announced a new joint action project – JOULE (Joint Operation Unifying Last-mile Electrification) – with its signatories and industry partners to build a new network of shared electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Bengaluru, India. Co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism in 2019, The Climate Pledge is a commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

Pledge signatories and partners will collectively invest over US$2.65 million into the project by 2030. Amazon, Mahindra Logistics, Uber, HCLTech and Magenta Mobility will work together to optimise the usage of the EV charging stations, combining the charging needs of their EV fleets to ensure the infrastructure is well utilised. Industry partner Kazam, an India-based EV charging platform, will build the network of shared charging stations. The project will also be supported by renewable energy provider Greenko and strategic consulting partner Deloitte.

“Together with the Pledge signatories, we are proud to launch this joint action initiative which will support India’s transition to electric vehicles, including Bengaluru’s goal of having 100% EVs for three-wheelers, cab services, and corporate fleets by 2030,” said Sally Fouts, Global Leader, The Climate Pledge. “This project not only addresses some of the current challenges in India’s charging infrastructure to support greater electric vehicle adoption, but also sets a new standard for corporate climate collaboration.”

As part of this project, the first EV charging station located at Doddakallasandra is fully operational as of today, and the project aims to build five more charging stations in Bengaluru by the end of this year, with plans to further expand in order to meet the growing demand for local EV infrastructure. While the project is estimated to support about 5,500 EVs in Bengaluru by 2030 (based on expected demand), it is able to service about 9,500 EVs at full capacity. To maximise utilisation, the infrastructure will also be available for other companies to charge their fleet vehicles during the day.

All of the electricity used by the charging stations (projected to reach 22,700 megawatt-hours of power) will be matched with 100% renewable energy, amounting to an estimated 6.2 megawatt of renewable energy capacity by 2030. By the same year, the project is also expected to save over 11.2 million liters of fuel and abate an estimated 25,700 tonnes of carbon-dioxide. Beyond reducing tailpipe emissions, the project will create an estimated 185 full-time jobs in Bengaluru between 2024 to 2030.

"Establishing a shared network of EV charging stations in Bengaluru is a significant step towards achieving our national goal of increasing electric vehicle adoption, and we fully support this innovative collaboration led by The Climate Pledge," said Gunjan Krishna, Indian Administrative Service, Industries Commissioner, Government of Karnataka. “This initiative not only enhances the accessibility of EV infrastructure but also demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in driving India's transition to a more sustainable future."

According to a new Deloitte whitepaper, for India to achieve its goal of having EV sales account for 30% of all new vehicle sales by 2030, the country will require a ratio of 1 station per 20 vehicles. The current ratio — approximately 1 charging station per 135 EVs — is significantly lower than this and hinders the country’s transition to EVs. Key challenges, such as the lack of EV charging stations, uncertainty in utilisation rates, range anxiety, coupled with hesitance from businesses to install charging stations due to high capital costs and the lack of awareness of benefits, remain concerns for prospective EV owners. 

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