KATHMANDU : Nepal needs a dedicated system to register and track batteries used in electric vehicles, according to Suresh Shrestha, chief of the Vehicle Testing Office.
Shrestha made the remarks during a discussion on ‘Battery Recycling and Ethanol Blending in Fuel’ organized by the Nepal Automobile Importers and Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) on Friday.
He said EV registration in Nepal currently records the chassis and motor numbers. However, there is no system to register the battery number.
According to Shrestha, every EV battery has a unique identification number. Registering and tracking batteries along with vehicles would make it easier to monitor them throughout their lifecycle.
He said the system could help prevent used batteries from being improperly discarded or entering the scrap market.
The tracking system would also help identify the importer and condition of each battery. This could simplify the process when used batteries need to be sent abroad for recycling.
Shrestha said a clear tracking system would also help the government manage documentation and develop appropriate regulations for battery recycling and exports.
He suggested that batteries sent abroad for recycling or reuse should not be treated as conventional commercial exports. Instead, they could be classified as products temporarily sent abroad for reuse or recycling.
According to him, a proper tracking and management framework could reduce legal and tax-related complications associated with battery exports.
Shrestha also said Nepal still lacks clear minimum standards and licensing guidelines for EV imports, despite EV imports having increased significantly in recent years.
He said a draft framework is currently being prepared. The framework should include an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, he added.
Shrestha said Nepal’s new transport policy has prioritized the promotion of electric vehicles. It also needs to address the end-of-life management of EV batteries.
He said the current growth in EV adoption makes it an appropriate time to establish a comprehensive battery management ecosystem in Nepal.
