Sabin Kumar Chettri, a cab driver in Kathmandu, gave up his gasoline car in 2024 and switched to an electric vehicle (EV).  

Before the switch, he had used a car powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE) for about a decade, during which he faced steep maintenance bills, high vehicle taxes and the rising cost of imported fuel.

Chettri is one of the early EV adopters in Nepal, whose shift to electric helped pave the way for the country's growing EV movement.

"EV technology is getting better around the world, and I wanted to experience it, so I made an early switch from a gas-guzzler to a clean electric vehicle," he told DW.

"I drive about 130 kilometers daily with passengers and earn around 11,000 Nepali rupees (€68, $80). Charging costs me just 500 rupees. Today, EV drivers don't worry about finding a charging station because they're available every 50 to 100 kilometers. Plus, EV companies provide free servicing up to 160,000 kilometers, which saves us a lot of money," Chettri said.

Ambitious EV adoption target

Nepal has seen a dramatic rise in electric vehicle adoption — from just 250 EVs in 2020 to over 13,000 in 2024.

More than 70% of newly imported four-wheeler passenger vehicles are now electric, a remarkable shift driven by favorable policies and growing public interest.

It's part of a national strategy to reduce carbon emissions while transforming urban mobility.

"We're seeing a clear rise in both the willingness and demand for electric vehicles from consumers, mainly because EVs are taxed less than internal combustion engine vehicles," Suresh Shrestha, senior divisional engineer and chief of the Vehicle Fitness Test Center (VFTC) at Nepal's Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT), told DW.

"And today, EVs offer similar range and features compared to ICE-powered vehicles," he added.

Nepal's government has also come up with an ambitious EV agenda.

It wants 90% of new private and 60% of new public four-wheeler vehicles sold from 2030 onward to be EVs — one of the boldest targets in the region.

"To reach these goals, the government is reducing tariffs and investing in the entire EV ecosystem by improving infrastructure and making the most of our clean, reliable hydropower," Shrestha underlined.

Kathmandu among the most polluted cities worldwide

Kathmandu ranks among the world's most polluted cities. Poor air quality is a daily reality for millions of residents.

The capital's air is estimated to be 20 to 35 times more polluted than the World Health Organization's recommended PM2.5 levels.

Major contributors include emissions from around 1.75 million vehicles, seasonal forest fires, smoke from brick kilns, dust from construction sites and the widespread practice of open waste burning. Together, these sources have created a toxic blanket over the city, threatening both human health and environmental sustainability.

The air pollution troubles stretch far beyond the capital, with many regions across the Himalayan nation affected by it. According to the World Bank, air pollution causes around 26,000 deaths annually in Nepal, making it a major public health crisis.

Against this backdrop, EVs are playing a major role in helping the country move off the list of the world's most polluted places.

"EVs are pollution-free and silent. From what I hear, customers are more aware of environmental issues these days, and they also want to save on fuel and maintenance costs," Suman Maharjan, an EV dealer in Kathmandu, told DW.

"We've already sold 125 units and 250 more are booked — all within just six months," he added.

Boosting wide-scale EV adoption

Nepal, however, is new to EV technology, relying on imports from neighboring China and India for almost all of the EVs plying its streets.

To help sustain the EV adoption, the government says it is working closely with international partners.

"Of course, challenges remain, especially around import standards and the lack of skilled technicians," said Shrestha.

"The World Bank is currently studying the feasibility of converting ICE vehicles into EVs. And international partners like the Mitigation Action Facility, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) are helping to close the skill gap, train EV technicians, and expand access to EV financing through banks," he pointed out.

Shrestha said harnessing Nepal's enormous hydropower resources could also provide the clean energy needed to boost wide-scale EV adoption.

"Nepal is ahead in EV adoption and taking proactive steps to cut carbon emissions. Fossil fuels will run out one day, but with abundant clean hydropower, Nepal is in a perfect position to drive the shift to sustainable transport."

Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru