Nepal’s Green Mobility Initiative: 51 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations inaugurated

Kathmandu, September 5th, 2023 – The Nepal Electricity Authority has officially inaugurated 51 cutting-edge fast charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) at strategic locations across the country. The ceremonial launch took place at the Nepal Police Club Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, with the distinguished presence of Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, and Secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire.

These fast charging stations, established under the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Development Project, represent a significant milestone in Nepal’s pursuit of sustainable development through the adoption of green and clean energy solutions. With an investment from the Nepal Electricity Authority, concessional loans provided by the Asian Development Bank, and technical support from the Norwegian government, these charging stations have been strategically placed along major highways, bus terminals, and urban centers spanning all seven provinces.

Among the 51 charging stations, 26 are equipped to charge a range of vehicles, including buses, micros, trucks, pickups, and cars, while the remaining 25 cater to small and large cars.

Minister Basnet emphasized the importance of this initiative in reducing carbon emissions and combatting climate change through the promotion of EVs. He stated that the government is actively working on policy and legal frameworks to incentivize electric vehicle adoption and attract investors for local EV production.

Energy Secretary Ghimire pointed out that the transportation sector plays a vital role in increasing domestic electricity consumption, and the transition to electric vehicles is expected to boost per capita energy consumption.

Kulman Ghising, the Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority, highlighted the role of these charging stations in encouraging EV adoption, noting that electric vehicles are significantly more cost-effective, with operational expenses 15-20 times lower than their petroleum counterparts. Ghising also revealed plans to establish an additional 500 charging stations nationwide.

Sujata Gupta, Head of the South Asia Energy Division at the Asian Development Bank, emphasized the importance of building the necessary infrastructure to promote EVs, particularly in the transportation sector, as it represents a key area for reducing carbon emissions.

Charging costs for electric vehicles are expected to be affordable, with an average rate of 70 paisa per kilometer for cars, 80 paisa for SUVs, 90 paisa for microbuses, and 120 paisa per kilometer for buses. Depending on the battery capacity of the EVs, charging times range from half an hour to one hour.

The establishment of these charging stations aligns with Nepal’s goals of increasing domestic electricity consumption, reducing reliance on petroleum imports, and fostering an environmentally friendly transportation system powered by electric vehicles.

Each charging station boasts a 142-kilowatt capacity charger, a 50 kVA transformer for power supply, and an online charging system. Stations are equipped with DC chargers with capacities of 60-60 kilowatts and 22-kilowatt AC chargers, allowing for the simultaneous charging of up to three vehicles, including large buses.

The construction, supply, installation, testing, operation, and maintenance of these charging stations were contracted to Wangwang Digital Energy Corporation Ltd., Jiangsu, China, at a cost of NPR 37 crore 79 lakh 55 thousand rupees (excluding tax). The contractor company will be responsible for the maintenance of the charging stations for five years. The charging stations’ software will be hosted in the authority’s data center, enabling centralized control of all 51 stations from Kathmandu. Customers can conveniently settle their bills through QR codes and mobile apps after charging their vehicles.