Nepal Government Purchases its First Electric Vehicle to Counter Pollution

Nepal government just made its first purchase of an Electric Vehicle (EV) according to The Kathmandu Post. The National Planning Commission (NPC) became the first government agency to purchase an e6 BYD model car in a bid to replace diesel and petrol powered cars currently used by government agencies. NPC is also building a charging station in its premises.

The long-range driving e6 BYD model car, manufactured by BYD Auto costs Rs. 6 million. Nepal government has had EVs before but they were all donated to the government. This is the government’s first purchase of an EV.

The e6 BYD is a family-oriented crossover vehicle with its 5-passenger seating capacity. According to the manufacturer, the zero emission, renewable-energy vehicle can save 14,120 litres of fuel per year, with 32 tonnes fewer CO2 emissions.

Swarnim Wagle, vice chairman of NPC said, “The government’s move to buy EV is mainly focused at reducing air pollution by reducing the use of fossil fuel-based vehicles.”

According to company’s specification, the EV’s range is good for longer rides: up to 400 kilometres on one charge. A full charge takes two hours. It has a limited speed of 140 kilometres per hour and a total capacity of 80 kilowatt hours. In winter, due to the electricity consumption of using the car’s interior heating feature, the effective range is reduced by about 50 kilometres. The battery can be recharged over 2000 times and has a certified lifespan of 20 years.

To promote energy efficient vehicles in the Valley, electric vehicles for public transportation have been granted a 100 percent excise duty waiver, while the customs duty has been brought down to 1 percent from 15 percent.

Further, importers of electric vehicles brought for private purposes will also get a 100 percent waiver on excise duty and the import duty on such vehicles has been lowered to 10 percent from 40 percent.

Added to this, the government aims to ban sale of fossil fuel-run vehicles in the Valley by 2027, followed by countrywide ban by 2031.

Nepal Electricity Authority has also set up Electric Vehicles charging station in the valley.