KATHMANDU: Nepal has achieved a significant milestone in its electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, with over 1,000 DC fast chargers now installed across the country.
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), in collaboration with private sector companies, has spearheaded the development of this extensive charging network. The private sector has played a leading role, contributing the majority of the charging stations, while government investments and grants have also supported this expansion.
“Currently, around 1,050 DC chargers are operational across the country,” said Sagarmani Gyawali, head of the NEA’s Charging Infrastructure Project. “The private sector has significantly boosted this growth. Charging stations are now available every 40 to 50 kilometers along major highways.”
The journey began in 2018 when Korean automaker KIA installed Nepal’s first fast-charging station at Kurintar. This charging station is not longer functional though. The pace of installations accelerated after 2021, with every EV dealers in Nepal now contributing to the charging network.
Who Built How Many Charging Stations?
CG Motors, a subsidiary of the Chaudhary Group, leads the pack with the largest charging network in the country. The company has installed 290 DC chargers — GBT chargers at 260 locations and CCS-2 chargers at 30 sites — spanning from Panchthar in the east to Baitadi Bazaar in the west.
MAW is next with a network of CCS-2 type DC chargers at 96 locations. Similarly, the NEA has installed DC chargers at 62 sites supporting both GBT and CCS-2 charging.
Other major players, including Tata Motors, BYD and Omoda/Jaecoo, have each installed around 30 DC charging stations. Pooja Construction, the distributor of SRM electric vans, has built a large number of charging stations.
Chargers have also been installed with support from organizations like USAID, the Municipal Development Fund, and various other agencies.
The effort extends beyond EV importers. Hotels, municipalities, provincial governments and even fuel stations are joining the push. A new provision introduced by the government now requires existing fuel stations to install chargers when renewing their licenses, while new stations are required to include chargers alongside fuel pumps. This policy is expected to rapidly expand the EV charging network along highways.
