Energy Minister stresses on use of electric vehicles

Kathmandu, Sept 28: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Kulman Ghising, has laid emphasis on promotion of electric vehicles to control air pollution and take the country towards green economy.     

Inaugurating the charging stations operated by Change Digital at different places of the country including Samakhusi today, Minister Ghising pointed out the need of converting petroleum vehicles into electric ones.     

He opined that import of petroleum products could be reduced by increasing the consumption of power in all sectors including household purpose and industries for the consumption of power produced from hydropower in the country, adding there would be significant contribution in country's economy making positive impacts on foreign exchange reserve of the country following decrease in import.     

The government through different policies and plans has been giving priority to the use of electric vehicles. A target has been set to make 90 per cent electric vehicles of the total private vehicles and 70 per cent of the public vehicles within 2030.     

The Nepal Electricity Authority has established 62 charging stations at different places of the country to promote the use of electric vehicles while around 800 charging stations are run by private sector.(RSS)