Battery-swapping kiosks for EVs to come up at four Bengaluru railway stations

Bengaluru Railway Division introduces battery-swapping kiosks for EVs at key stations, promoting clean mobility and generating non-fare revenue.

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In a green push to support the growing electric vehicle ecosystem, the Bengaluru Division of South Western Railway is set to roll out battery-swapping kiosks for EVs at four key railway stations.

These facilities will soon be available at KSR Bengaluru City station (third entrance), Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal, Banaswadi, and Yelahanka, offering a quick and convenient option for two- and three-wheeler EV users to swap discharged batteries for fully charged ones.

Aimed at promoting clean mobility and reducing dependence on conventional fuel, this initiative also opens up a new stream of non-fare revenue for the Railways. A senior official from the Bengaluru Division said, “The kiosks are designed to serve high demand efficiently. Each site will occupy an area of 250 square feet and house four swap stations, with each station equipped to store 14 batteries. Altogether, the infrastructure is expected to cater to more than 800 vehicles daily.”

A private firm has bagged the contract for a three-year term and will pay the Railways a licence fee of ₹22 lakh annually. “The swapping service is priced at around ₹42 per kilowatt-hour. For instance, swapping a completely drained 1.5 kWh battery on a two-wheeler would cost the user ₹56,” official added.

Interestingly, the system has been designed for speed and ease. No designated EV parking has been earmarked at these stations. Commuters can simply ride up to the kiosk, swap their depleted batteries for fresh ones, and be on their way — all in under five minutes.