Shilshila Acharya was initially hesitant to buy her first electric car back in 2018, because she was worried how it would perform. But Acharya, who directs the Avni Center for Sustainability in Kathmandu, did not want to buy a petrol or diesel car. \u201cI just had my child at that time and definitely didn’t want to transport the next generation in environmentally damaging vehicles,\u201d she explains. Five years later, Acharya is happy with her decision: \u201cIt is comfortable, cost-effective, and doesn’t contribute to emissions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acharya\u2019s decision is just one example of Nepal\u2019s growing<\/a> enthusiasm for electric vehicles (EVs) in recent years. Orders for EVs at Sipradi, a major car trader and the sole distributor in Nepal of India\u2019s Tata Motors, reached a record high during Nepal\u2019s national auto trade show (NADA) in mid-September. Sipradi’s marketing manager, Aviruchi Giri, says the response has been overwhelming: \u201cWe launched two new EV cars and one ICE [internal combustion engine] vehicle, and almost all the attention from potential buyers was for the electric option.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n At a time of growing economic concerns<\/a> in Nepal, Giri was not expecting this level of interest. On reflection, she points to several possible driving factors, such as EV-friendly bank loans<\/a> and \u201ca growing sense of cost-effectiveness\u201d in comparison to ICE fuel prices. According to the Department of Customs, Nepal imported EVs worth NPR 12 billion<\/a> (USD 90.3 million) in the fiscal year 2021 to 2022, a figure that had more than doubled in a year. The majority of these imports were cars and two-wheelers from India and China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, sustainable transport experts and EV stakeholders suggest that while interest is growing, Nepal is not entirely prepared for EVs. Inconsistencies in policy, a clear gap between growth targets and on-the-ground reality, and a lack of vision in addressing both traffic issues and e-waste disposal are some of the obstacles to Nepal\u2019s electric mobility<\/a> future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The government of Nepal has recognised<\/a> the significance of electric mobility as critical<\/a> to climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, a significant issue with the EV trend is its support for the status quo: private car and motorcycle ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPublic mobility in the shade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n