Thursday, September 26, 2019

NEA to build 50 charging stations

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is planning to establish 50 charging stations across major cities and highways as the country is witnessing continuous rise in the use of electric vehicles (EVs) lately.
The state-power utility – publishing a notice today – asked property owners, including commercial complexes, cinema halls, supermarkets, parks, universities, government authorities, hotels, hospitals, among others, to make land available for the NEA to construct charging station, preferably wide parking spaces. After finalisng the places, the NEA will publish a tender to set up the charging stations. “It hopes to complete the construction works within six months after the tender is awarded.
The NEA is planning to set up 15 charging stations across Kathmandu Valley within the next six months, the notice reads, adding that it is – at the moment – finalising the places. “NEA also plans to set up such charging stations across different places in Pokhara, Nepalgunj, Chitwan and Biratnagar, after the Valley.”
The NEA is planning to establish the EV charging stations every 100 km to 200 km along the highways where vehicles usually stop for refreshment. “The charging stations will be able to charge at least three EVs at a time, according to the NEA. “As the NEA is planning to pay for the land, the property owners, who make land available for the charging stations will earn extra income.”
The government has been giving priority to EVs with growing concerns of pollution, and also the huge imports of petroleum products, for which the total export amount is also not enough.
The state-power utility estimates that there are almost 600 electric four-wheelers and 10,000 electric two-wheelers plying on the Valley’s roads. But the owners of electric vehicles are forced to charge their vehicles at home due to lack of charging stations.

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