FEASIBILITY OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN NEPAL - A SHORT ANALYSIS
Nepal had plans to increase the share of electric vehicles to 20% as of 2020 but failed to meet the target. Nepal has plans to make half of the vehicles imported into the country electric by 2023 but in the absence of follow-up plans, it doesn't seem likely.[1] The government has promised to build charging stations, and electric railways and provide incentives to support EVs. By 2030, Nepal wants to increase the sales of electric vehicles to cover 90% of all private passenger vehicles[2] but the record of failure questions the feasibility of EVs in Nepal.
However, it is not always gloomy and doomy in Nepal. There are some success stories with EVs. The Safa Tempos have been operating successfully as a means of public transport for 25 years in Kathmandu valley. Three-wheeler e-rickshaws are running in the southern plains. From 2016 to 2019, the number of e-rickshaws in Nepal more than doubled in numbers.[3] This demonstrates that EVs can operate in Nepal for short-distance travel.
Whenever we talk about EVs, they are promoted as a cleaner and greener alternative to internal combustion vehicles. Nepal has a huge advantage as the country’s hydropower plants produce surplus energy and there is room for EVs to use that energy.[4] In recent years, electric vehicle manufacturers have built a number of charging stations across the country and the trend is increasing. This does show that EVs have a sustainable future in Nepal.
A problem cited with EVs is that they can't be driven on the rough terrains of Nepal. But, is that really important? First of all, there is a huge need to replace fossil-powered vehicles in the cities with EVs, which really don't require high specifications. For the likes of us who just need a simple vehicle, EVs are the best choice.
EVs might not be the perfect choice for everyone today, but it is the best for many of us; yet to use them. If the government fulfills its promises towards EVs then EVs are certainly feasible in Nepal.
References
1. MoFE. 2021. Assessment of Electric Mobility Targets for Nepal’s 2020 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE), Kathmandu. Pg.40
https://www.mofe.gov.np/downloadfile/E-mobility%20Assmnt%20NDC%202020_1623998131.pdf
2. Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) (2020)
3. MoFE. 2021. Assessment of Electric Mobility Targets for Nepal’s 2020 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE), Kathmandu. Pg.13
https://www.mofe.gov.np/downloadfile/E-mobility%20Assmnt%20NDC%202020_1623998131.pdf
4. Nepal starts selling 364MW of electricity in the Indian market
