KATHMANDU: The Nepal government has decided to create a legal framework that allows old petrol and diesel vehicles to be converted into electric vehicles.
The Cabinet made this decision on April 5. Education Minister and government spokesperson Sasmit Pokhrel confirmed the move, saying the necessary laws will now be put in place to make conversions possible.
Right now, no clear law exists for this. Because of that, vehicle owners have no choice but to scrap their old vehicles. Even though the government had opened a three-year window for conversions last December under the Vehicle and Transport Management Act 2049, the process could not move forward without proper rules.
For conversions to happen, standards need to be set, covering battery and motor specs, weight balance, motor number registration, workshop requirements, and post-conversion inspections. Registration fees, insurance, and renewal charges for converted vehicles also need to be defined.
Gyanraj Lamsal, Information Officer at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, said the law will be drafted soon in consultation with the Department of Transport Management and other stakeholders.
Experts say the government should also introduce incentives like subsidized loans and tax breaks to encourage more vehicle owners to make the switch, a move that could reduce fuel imports, cut pollution, and boost the use of renewable energy.
