Petrol consumption in the Kathmandu Valley dropped by 8.25 percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year despite a rise in imports of fossil fuel. Experts have attributed this new trend to the popularity of electric vehicles (EVs).

According to data from the Department of Customs, the valley consumed 51,590 kiloliters of petrol in the review period,, down from 56,231 kiloliters during the corresponding period of last year.

According to the department, sales at major petrol stations have also seen a sharp decline. For example, Ripu Mardini Petrol Station, operated by the Nepalese Army, recorded a 26.44 percent drop in sales, from 1.9 million liters last year to 1.4 million liters this year.

Other stations like the Bhaktapur Fuel Centre and Mahalaxmi Fuel Center Samakhushi also reported a decline in sales.

While petrol imports increased by 12 percent in the review period, with 51,590 kiloliters of petrol imported, the increased popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) is believed to be a major factor behind the decline in petrol consumption. Over 10,000 EVs were imported last year, with more than 60 percent of them sold in the Kathmandu Valley. The shift toward EVs is contributing to the reduced demand for petrol, and this trend is expected to continue as more electric vehicles replace traditional petrol-powered vehicles.