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Nepal imported 689 units of electric cars in the first month of the current Fiscal Year (FY), a four-fold rise compared to 160 units in the same period last FY.

Electric cars constitute the largest share in the segment of four-wheelers. The records with the Department of Customs (DoC) show that only 188 units of petroleum-based cars were imported during the review period.

Likewise, electric scooters also set a new record in the import of two-wheelers. For the first time, 5,174 units of electric two-wheelers entered the country in a single month. The share of electric vehicles in the total two-wheeler import has reached 18.60 percent.

According to the Department of Customs, the government collected revenue worth Rs 1.061 billion from the import of electric cars worth Rs 1.61 billion. Entrepreneurs say that consumer interest in EVs is maintained due to the expansion of charging infrastructure, the rising price of petroleum products, savings in operating costs, and the availability of new models.

Recently, EV cars, jeeps, vans and scooters ranging from cheap to premium segments have been available in the market. Electric vehicles are gaining popularity in Nepal as electricity is available at a lower price than petrol and diesel, according to traders.

Similarly, three-wheeler electric vehicles (EVs) were also found to be imported at an increasing rate. During mid-July and mid-August alone, a total of 1,888 units of three-wheeler EVs worth Rs 227.8 million were imported. Of these, 1,171 three-wheelers worth Rs 122.5 million were unassembled.