Electric Vehicle Sales Surge in Nepal, Leading to Reduced Oil Imports and Cleaner Air

Nepal is using a lot of clean energy from hydroelectric power to reduce the need for oil and make the air cleaner. This is because many people are buying electric vehicles. Most of the electricity in Nepal comes from clean sources, mainly from hydroelectricity powered by rivers. The Nepal Electricity Authority says that using electric vehicles has saved Nepal $22 million in oil costs each year, and this amount is growing. Nepal can produce up to 2,600 megawatts of power, and this capacity is increasing with new hydropower plants. Some power also comes from solar plants. Nepal is committed to reducing climate-changing emissions by increasing electric vehicle sales. The goal is to have 25% of all cars sold be electric by 2025 and 90% by 2030. To encourage more people to buy electric vehicles, the government is charging lower taxes on imported electric cars, ranging from 25% to 90%. Sagar Mani Gnawali, who is in charge of developing electric vehicle charging infrastructure, says Nepal now has 400 charging stations, and this number is expected to double soon. People like Sharma are happy to use electric vehicles because they help the environment, cost less to charge, and offer more luxury for the same price as gas-fueled cars. Electric vehicles are easy to drive, don't pollute, and are good for the environment. They also help keep money in the country instead of spending it on foreign oil. While many small electric vans are transporting passengers in Nepal, there are very few electric buses in Kathmandu, and none connect the capital to other cities. Pollution from buses, vehicles, and burning fuels for cooking and heating has made Kathmandu one of the most polluted cities in the world. In April, the government advised people to stay indoors due to the high pollution levels.