Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is planning to install 50 charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) across the country within a year-and-a-half as the country is witnessing a rising number of electric vehicles.
The demand for electric vehicles has doubled in the past year, according to automobile dealers, who claimed that electric vehicles have captivated public attention with growing number of people interested in buying such automobiles. “But due to lack of charging stations, people are hesitant to buy the electric vehicle.”
There are four private charging stations, two of them are in the Kathmandu valley and are designed especially to charge electric buses, whereas the remaining two are in Kurintar of Chitwan and Nagarkot of Bhaktapur. The charging stations outside Kathmandu Valley can charge cars only. The cost of charging electric vehicles is currently Rs 7 to Rs 8 per unit.
There are more than 41,400 electric vehicles across the country, the automobile dealers claimed, adding that there are 35,000 two-wheelers, 5,000 three-wheelers, more than 650 cars, 750 safa tempos and four buses. “The number of electric vehicles is likely to go up in the days to come because of tax exemption by the government.”
The government has introduced policies – like exemption of road tax and also less customs duty compared to the vehicles operating on fossil fuel – to promote electric vehicles as it is environment-friendly.
The NEA is looking for places, where it can set up charging stations without having to pay any rent. “The NEA is planning to operate charging stations in free places like government offices, parking areas of public schools and other public places. “The NEA is soon issuing a call for tender for setting up charging stations,” the NEA informed, adding that charging stations will be operational within a-year-and-a- half. “The increasing use of electric vehicles in Nepal is not only expected to help control air pollution but will also improve the country's GDP as Nepal has a huge potential to generate hydro-electricity.”
The demand for electric vehicles has doubled in the past year, according to automobile dealers, who claimed that electric vehicles have captivated public attention with growing number of people interested in buying such automobiles. “But due to lack of charging stations, people are hesitant to buy the electric vehicle.”
There are four private charging stations, two of them are in the Kathmandu valley and are designed especially to charge electric buses, whereas the remaining two are in Kurintar of Chitwan and Nagarkot of Bhaktapur. The charging stations outside Kathmandu Valley can charge cars only. The cost of charging electric vehicles is currently Rs 7 to Rs 8 per unit.
There are more than 41,400 electric vehicles across the country, the automobile dealers claimed, adding that there are 35,000 two-wheelers, 5,000 three-wheelers, more than 650 cars, 750 safa tempos and four buses. “The number of electric vehicles is likely to go up in the days to come because of tax exemption by the government.”
The government has introduced policies – like exemption of road tax and also less customs duty compared to the vehicles operating on fossil fuel – to promote electric vehicles as it is environment-friendly.
The NEA is looking for places, where it can set up charging stations without having to pay any rent. “The NEA is planning to operate charging stations in free places like government offices, parking areas of public schools and other public places. “The NEA is soon issuing a call for tender for setting up charging stations,” the NEA informed, adding that charging stations will be operational within a-year-and-a- half. “The increasing use of electric vehicles in Nepal is not only expected to help control air pollution but will also improve the country's GDP as Nepal has a huge potential to generate hydro-electricity.”
