Electrical Vehicles(EVs) In Nepal?

 WHAT IS ELECTRIC VEHICLE?

Electrical vehicles are those vehicle that are powered by electrical sources like batteries, solar rather than fuels.

A BRIEF HISTORY:

• Around 1832, Scottish inventor Robert Anderson first developed crude electric vehicle and hence the long journey in development and modification of electric vehicle started.

• The first successful electric car was built in 1891 by American inventor William Morrison.

•  But electric vehicles came in practice in 1870s.

• In context of Nepal, in 1975 Chinese government set up an electrical trolley by bus in Kathmandu.

•  Gradually in 1993 and 1998 tempos and cable car were introduces in Nepal.

• And in 2003 Nepal’s government provided tax incentive in electrical vehicles, which increased the number of EVs in Nepal.

PRESENT CONDITION OF EV IN NEPAL:

There are around 41000 EVs running round the Nepal according to NEA survey. Our government was never fond of electrical vehicles. Let’s say a 15-20years back from now, many countries started thinking about the limiting the fossil fuels and saving the environment form air pollutions. Those country they then gradually increased the use of EVs as their quick and effective remedy but our government were lacking this kind of thoughts. Unwanted rules like increasing the tax in EVs has always discouraged many company to start a plant in Nepal.  But recently our government has taken oath to make Nepal fuel free country by 2088 B.S. Let’s hope our government meets their goal. The major problem we are facing now are lack of engineers and lack of well built garages, this has made people difficult to maintain their EVs.

In Nepal, there aren’t many charge station currently, only hand full of stations are made by EVs dealer companies for their customers. Like Hyundai Nepal has 12 charging stations all over Nepal similarly other company have their own private stations only for their certified customers. Recently in the month of April 2021, Nepal Electricity Authority and Chinese company Jiangsu Wanbang Dehe New Energy Technology Company have signed an agreement to built 50 electrical charging stations all over Nepal. In Nepal, there are total of seven provinces the distribution of charging station is:

Province 1:  5
Province 2:  7
Province 3:  20
Province 4:  6 
Province 5:  8  
Province 6:  1  
Province 7:  3 

Every station will have chargers of 142 kW capacities and 50 KVA transfer, along with online billing system. Three vehicles will be able to charge at once in the stations.

To make a proper distribution, 100’s of more should be added all over Nepal. 

IS THERE ANY FUTURE OF EV IN NEPAL?

Yes obviously!! Not only in Nepal, the future of electrical vehicle is everywhere in this planet. It is the best remedy to limit the use of fossil fuel and make environment clean everywhere. In context of Nepal, probably the cost of electricity used by the EV to charge will also be less than the present price of fuel.

If taxes in EVs are decreased then I personally think many people will jump to EVs rather than having a fueled vehicle and paying over price for diesel/petrol. In recent news also we have heard that the major city of Nepal ‘Kathmandu’ was declared the world’s polluted city it’s all due to over population and their fueled vehicle that cause the air to pollute in huge amount. This kind of polluted air has direct impact in human health so for solving this problem also EVs can play a vital role. 

 There is a tremendous pros of EVs but in context of Nepal the cons are also vital.

• The number of engineers and experienced technicians are less in Nepal and only limited are  produced so if use of EVs increases there may be lack of them.

• There aren’t advanced garages for EVs in Nepal and to start up huge investment should be  done   i.e. government help and support should be more.

•  There are many rural places in Nepal so it will be a really tough job to establish charging station  throughout country. 

WHAT TO DO IN FUTURE TO SLOVE THIS PROBLEM?

·         The main thing that will help to solve the problem is the government initiation itself.

• The number of engineer and the use of EVs should in proper ratio. If EVs is more than engineers than lack of human resources and vice-versa.  

• To start advance garages throughout the country government should provide loans in less interest and encourage educated youth to startup.

• Huge government and individual investment will only make the charging stations establishment possible throughout the country. This will not only increase use of EVs but also provide jobs to many people.

•  And the most important thing in my opinion is use of EVs will directly encourage people to use alternative source of energy in other works also like cooking, heating, lightning, etc.