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Climate Pledge And Partners Unveil Shared EV Charging Stations To Foster Sustainable Transport In Bangalore
The Climate Pledge has introduced a new initiative, JOULE (Joint Operation Unifying Last-mile Electrification), in collaboration with its signatories and industry partners. This project aims to establish a network of shared electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Bengaluru, India. The Climate Pledge, co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism in 2019, is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, decade ahead of the Agreement.
Investment and Collaboration
Signatories and partners will collectively invest over US$2.65 million into this project by 2030. Companies such as Amazon, Mahindra Logistics, Uber, HCLTech, and Magenta Mobility will optimise the use of these EV charging stations by combining their fleet's charging needs. Kazam, an India-based EV charging platform, will build the network. Renewable energy provider Greenko and strategic consulting partner Deloitte will also support the project.
"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 at 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."
Operational Details
The first EV charging station at Doddakallasandra is now operational. The project plans to build five more stations in Bengaluru by year-end and expand further to meet growing local demand. It aims to support about 5,500 EVs by 2030 but can service up to 9,500 EVs at full capacity. Other companies can also use this infrastructure during the day for their fleet vehicles.
All electricity used by these stations will be matched with 100% renewable energy. By 2030, this is expected to amount to an estimated 6.2 megawatts of renewable energy capacity. Additionally, the project aims to save over 11.2 million litres of fuel and reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by approximately 25,700 tonnes. It will also create around 185 full-time jobs in Bengaluru between 2024 and 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," said Gunjan Krishna from the Indian Administrative Service. "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."
Addressing Challenges
A Deloitte whitepaper highlights that India needs one station per 20 vehicles to achieve its goal of having EV sales account for 30% of all new vehicle sales by 2030. Currently, there is approximately one charging station per 135 EVs in India. This low ratio hinders the country's transition to EVs due to challenges like lack of stations, uncertainty in utilisation rates, range anxiety, high capital costs for businesses installing stations, and lack of awareness about benefits.
The joint collaboration addresses these issues by setting up dedicated charging stations with priority access, security services, essential amenities, and dedicated parking slots for corporate consumers. By aggregating usage demand from various companies on both supply and demand sides, it ensures better utilisation rates and financial viability.
"India's road transport sector still heavily relies on diesel and petrol," said Shailesh Tyagi from Deloitte South Asia. "But there is a silver lining – while India's EV penetration is low compared to other countries; it is expected to become one of the largest EV markets globally by 2030." He added that this initiative helps create a more sustainable model for EV charging.
"Kazam is proud to support The Climate Pledge through our advanced EV charging solutions tailored for e-commerce and electric fleet operators," said Paras Shah from Kazam. "We are excited about Project JOULE as it represents a crucial milestone in our mission to combat climate change."
Last year, The Climate Pledge announced Laneshift – committing US$10 million to C40 Cities for developing zero-emission electric trucks and infrastructure across major cities in India and Latin America. In India, Laneshift aims to accelerate EV infrastructure development in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Pune.
This collaborative effort marks significant progress towards sustainable transportation solutions in India while setting an example for corporate climate action globally.
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