Bengaluru: Amid evolving energy demand patterns and policy support for electric mobility, oil marketing companies (OMCs) across Karnataka are accelerating their transition from conventional fuel retailing to building a robust electric vehicle (EV) charging network, particularly around Bengaluru. Even as uncertainties loom over the resumption of petroleum supplies in the backdrop of the ongoing West Asia crisis, oil companies are leveraging regulatory relaxations to bet big on EV charging infrastructure.In a major relief to OMCs, Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) eased the mandatory transformer rule in Dec 2023 and directed Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) — the nodal agency for EV infrastructure in Karnataka — to provide grid connectivity for EV charging stations without requiring transformers on petrol bunk premises. TOI first reported on the development on Dec 31, 2023.Earlier, KERC had mandated that all retail petroleum outlets with more than 800sqft area or power consumption exceeding 35kW must install electrical transformers on their premises. However, oil companies argued that such a requirement would violate the safety norms prescribed by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation, which prohibit the installation of electrical equipment in areas storing highly inflammable substances such as petrol, diesel, and LPG. Following these concerns, the commission ruled in favour of OMCs.Buoyed by the revised norms, 378 petrol pump outlets operated by various oil companies applied to Bescom for permission to set up public EV charging stations. Of these, 307 have already been commissioned, while work is in progress at the remaining locations. Bescom engineers said this would be a shot in the arm for EV users across the state as they can easily plug in and charge their EVs at any of these petrol bunks on long journeys, overcoming range anxiety.“After assessing the suitability of the site, availability of sufficient space to charge at least 2-4 vehicles at a time, we have commissioned public EV charging stations,” said a senior Bescom engineer. Most of these stations have come up at OMC-operated outlets located along major arterial roads in Bengaluru and key highways such as the Bengaluru-Mysuru and Bengaluru-Belagavi corridors. N Shivashankara, MD of Bescom, said the utility has adopted a facilitative approach to ensure timely power supply and faster approvals. “Based on the directions of the energy minister and ACS (additional chief secretary), we have streamlined internal processes, including technical feasibility assessments, load sanctioning, and infrastructure readiness, to reduce turnaround time. The focus is on enabling a seamless transition by supporting all charge point operators with transparent and efficient processes. The launch of a single-window digital dashboard, designed to fast-track power supply approvals for charging infrastructure, has added to this process. The platform offers end-to-end tracking, real-time updates, and online documentation, minimising delays and enhancing coordination across departments,” he said.
