Sabin Kumar Chettri, a cab driver in Kathmandu, gave his gasoline car in 2024 and switched to the electric vehicle (EV).
Prior to the switch, he used a car powered by an internal combination engine (ICE) for nearly a decade, during which he faced the increasing cost of standing maintenance bills, high vehicle taxes and imported fuels.
Chettri Nepal is one of the early EV adopters in the Nepal Whift to Electric who helps to pave the way for the country’s growing EV movement.
“EV technology is getting better worldwide, and I wanted to experience it, so I switched to a clean electric vehicle from a gas-gazler to a quick,” he told DW.
“I drive about 130 km daily passengers and earn around 11,000 Nepalese rupees ($ 68 80). The price of charging is just 500 rupees. Today, EV drivers do not worry about finding a charging station that they are available for 50 to 100 kilometers.
Ambitios EV’s goal of adoption
Nepal has seen a dramatic growth in adopting electric vehicles – more than 13,000 in 2020 to just 250 EV to 2024.
More than 70% of the newly imported four wheeler private vehicles are now electric, which is a notable change by favorable policies and growing public interest.
It is part of a national strategy to reduce carbon emissions while changing urban mobility.
Senior Divisional Engineer and Chief Divisional Engineer and Chief Divisional Engineer and Chief of the Vehicle Fitness Test Center (VFTC), Senior Divisional Engineer and Chief Divisional Engineer and Chief of the Vehicle Fitness Test Center (VFTC) at Nepal’s Physical Infrastructure and Transport (Mopit), “are mainly EVS, because EVS is, because EVS is, because EVS is EVS, because EVS is EVS, because EVS is EVS, because EVs are EVS.
“And today, EVS provides similar range and features compared to snow-driven vehicles,” he said.
The Nepal government has come up with an ambitious EV agenda.
It is sold as one of the boldestst goals in the region to sell 90% new private and 60% new public wheeler vehicles from 2030.
“To reach these goals, the government is reducing the tetf and investing in the entire EV ecosystem by implementing the infrastructure and to make our clean, reliable hydroelectric,” superior underlined.
Kathmandu among the most polluted cities worldwide
Kathmandu ranks among the most polluted cities in the world, where poor air quality is a daily reality for millions of inhabitants.
The capital air is estimated to be 20 to 35 times more polluted than the recommended PM2.5 levels of the World Health Organization.
Prominent contributors include about 1.75 million vehicles, seasonal wildfire, smoke from brick kilns, excellent practice of dust and open waste burning from construction sites. Together, thesis sources have created a toxic blanket on the city, threatening human health and environmental stability.
The problem of air pollution is spread beyond the capital, in which many areas of the Himalayan nation have been affected. According to the World Bank, air pollution causes 26,000 deaths annually in Nepal, which is a major public health crisis.
Against this background, EVS is playing a major role in helping the country away from the list of the world’s most polluted places.
DW told the EV dealer in Kathmandu, “EVs are pollution-free and silent. What I hear, customers are more aware of environmental issues, and they want to save the cost of fuel and maintenance.”
He said, “We have already sold 125 units and 250 more have been booked – all within just six months,” he said.
Evoluntary
Nepal, however, is new to EV technology, which depends on the imports from neighboring China and India for almost all EVs, which is on its streets.
To help maintain EV adoption, the government says it is working closely with international partners.
“Of course, challenges remain, around the lack of import standards and efficient technicians,” said Shrestha.
“The World Bank is currently feasibility to convert ice vehicles in EVS. And the mitigation action facility, German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), and Green Growth Institute (GGGI), are helping international partners such as skill intervals, train eV technicians through banks,” he said.
Shrestha said that exploiting Nepal’s huge hydroelectric resources can provide the necessary clean energy for EV adoption on a large scale.
“Nepal is ahead in EV adoption and is taking active steps to cut carbon emissions. Fossil fuels want to run out one day, but with abundant clean hydropower, Nepal is in an ideal position to run changes in sustainable transport.”
Edited by: Srinivas Majumdaru
