EV import rises in first three months of current FY

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Nov. 10:  The import of electric vehicles has increased significantly during the first three months of the current fiscal year 2024/25.  According to the statistics of the Department of Customs, electric vehicles (cars, jeeps and vans) worth Rs. 6.11 billion have been imported during the first three months of the current fiscal year 2024/25.

During the review period, 2,518 electric cars, jeeps and vans have been imported. The import of four-wheeler electric vehicles in terms of quantity has increased by 18 per cent during the review period as compared to same period last fiscal year 2023/24.

Around 2,135 four-wheeler electric vehicles worth Rs. 5.17 billion had been imported during the first three months of the last fiscal year. 

Similarly, the country has imported 2,635 three-wheeler electric vehicles worth Rs. 263 million in the first three months of the current fiscal year.

The government has collected customs revenue of Rs. 3.83 billion while importing 2,518 four-wheeler electric vehicles and 2,635 three-wheeler electric vehicles during the review period.

The capacity of most imported electric vehicles ranges between 51 kW to 100 kW. A total of 1,582 electric vehicles with the capacity of 51 kW to 100 kW have been imported during the review period.

Similarly, 772 electric vehicles with motor power up to 50 kW have been imported. The number of electric vehicles with more than 101 kW to 200 kW motor power is 159 and above 201 kW is 5. 

During the review period, about 2,051 unassembled electric three-wheelers worth Rs. 193 million have been imported. Most of the electric vehicles imported into Nepal are Chinese in this review time. 

Of the 2,518, a total of 1,765 electric vehicles have been brought from China in the first three months of the current fiscal year. This is 70 per cent of total import of electric vehicles. 

According to the Department, around 747 electric vehicles were imported from India, five from Germany and one from United States of America.

The customs subsidy provided by the government and improved supply of electricity in the country and the concession on tariff on charging EVs by the Nepal Electricity Authority have also contributed to the increase in the import and use of electric vehicles over the past few years.

According to the statistics, the country imported 11,701 electric vehicles (car, jeep and vans) worth Rs. 29.5 billion in the last fiscal year 2023/24.

Similarly, in the fiscal year 2020/21, a total of 249 four-wheel electric vehicles (cars, jeeps) were imported while 1,800 four-wheeler electric vehicles (cars, jeeps) were imported in the fiscal year 2021/22 and 4,050 in the fiscal year 2022/23.