The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) launched its first electric vehicle charging station on Monday at its K.R Circle office in Bangalore.

The city has more than 6,000 registered electric vehicles.

Its tariff rate will now stand at a flat rate of Rs 4 per unit as an inaugural offer till it gets an approval on its proposed rates from the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC). Bescom has proposed a Rs 4.85 per unit of power during the day (06:00 to 22:00) and Rs 3.85 at night (22:00 to 06:00).

Fast charging option would cost Rs 5 per unit in the morning and Rs 4.40 per unit at night.

Electric buses will be Rs 5.5 per unit during the day and Rs 4.40 at night.

"We hope the KERC reduces the rate further. In Delhi, Rs 5 is charged per unit. The tariff has been subsidised following discussions with all the stakeholders, including cab aggregators who are keen on launching electric taxis," Bescom managing director Rajendra Cholan said.

"It takes approximately 16 units of power to charge a car enough to run for 120km. This works out to less than Rs 60/km which makes it very competitive," he said.

It also launched five electric vehicles for the exclusive use of its staff in partnership with the Baghirathi Group at its launch event.

"We're set to give e-vehicles to our senior staff. Around 100 vehicles will be given and we can also look at replacing our fleet of 1,500 vehicles including 750 service vehicles with electric vehicles once more manufacturers enter the market," Cholan said.Charging stations are being set up at all Bescom executive engineer offices," Cholan said.

Bescom is in talks with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited about putting up charging stations at locations like Namma Metro stations.

It has identified 200 locations and feasibility studies for nearly 70 are complete. Charging point will be launched shortly if it receives strong demand.

The is also a proposed scheme for home users to install charging points in their houses with separate meters.