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The Cabinet meeting held on April 5, 2026, decided to allow the conversion of old diesel and petrol vehicles into electric ones. The decision also includes making the necessary legal arrangements to facilitate such conversions.

On April 5, 2026, the Cabinet, based on a proposal from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, decided to facilitate the necessary legal framework for vehicle conversion. The government had previously made similar decisions twice to convert internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles into electric vehicles (EVs).

The government had earlier issued a notice in the Nepal Gazette on March 28, 2022, accepting and facilitating vehicle conversion. This was supported by amendments to provisions under the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act, 1993.

Similarly, in October–November 2025, following the Gen-Z-led movement and the formation of an election government, then Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Kulman Ghising also made a decision to facilitate the conversion of old petroleum vehicles into electric ones.

However, the previous two decisions appeared largely procedural, as there was little effort to formulate the necessary laws and guidelines for implementation afterward.

Now, under the government led by Balen Shah, after the April 5, 2026 decision, discussions have begun with experts and stakeholders to draft the required legal framework. It remains to be seen what kind of laws the government will introduce and what mandatory testing and standards will be set for converted vehicles.

At a discussion held on Thursday, participants included Shankar Singh Dhami, Chief Divisional Engineer (Mechanical) overseeing the Transport Management Division at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, technical directors from the Department of Transport Management, former minister Mahabir Pun, lawmaker Sagar Dhakal, and engineers involved in conversion work. The discussion mainly focused on the feasibility of vehicle conversion.

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