The govt will soon launch its ‘Clean Mobility Policy’ — which chief minister Siddaramaiah had announced in his Independence Day speech — to promote sustainable transportation in Karnataka.
Industries commissioner Gunjan Krishna on Monday said the policy aims to expand electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure by offering incentives to manufacturers and users, mandating charging stations in commercial and govt buildings, and promoting their use in public transportation.
Also, hydrogen fuel will be incorporated for industrial and transport purposes, in line with India’s hydrogen mission. The announcement was made during the Climate Pledge event, where the JOULE (Joint Operation Unifying Last-mile Connectivity), an EV charging network for last-mile connectivity, was introduced.
Stating that the new policy aims to create an entire ecosystem around EVs, she said it includes battery cell manufacturing, disposal, and recycling. “India’s first large-scale battery recycling plant is being set up in Bengaluru, with production expected to begin in 2025. We’re also integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and collaborating with ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) to enhance EV components,” she said.
Gunjan said the policy provides additional incentives to companies using green and sustainable processes and companies employing women and support modernisation efforts in industries. “We’re launching a vendor development programme jointly with NASSCOM to train 3,000 companies in manufacturing 4.0 techniques, with focus on sustainability,” she added.
More charging stations
To ensure last-mile connectivity and decarbonise the city, the Climate Pledge, co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism in 2019, has established JOULE. Multiple charging stations, which are powered by renewable energy, will be set up and they will support about 5,500 EVs by 2030 at a cost of Rs 18 crore, which was funded by multiple partners of the event.
The first charging station set up at Doddakallasandra in the city is now operational and there are plans to build five more by the end of this year. Private companies — Amazon, Mahindra Logistics, Uber, HCLTech, and Magenta Mobility — have come together to set up them. The Climate Pledge is an initiative to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
