More e-scooties for cleaner Kathmandu air
Despite an initial lukewarm response, sales of electric two-wheelers have spiked in Kathmandu as commuters realise that their initial and running cost is much lower than petrol motorcycles.
If this trend continues, the shift from petrol bikes to battery-powered two-wheelers will help clean up Kathmandu’s air pollution. Today, the more than 800,000 two-wheelers in the Valley are the main contributors of poisonous gases like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides and ozone.
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These gases, combined with particulate matter from the exhaust pipes of motorcycles, account for most of our air pollution. People living along busy roads and commuters with long-term exposure to these pollutants can have their life expectancy reduced by up to four years. In addition, motorcycles raise the noise level on city roads to dangerous levels.
A shift to electric two-wheelers would also reduce Nepal’s dependence on imported petroleum. Indeed, electric scooter sales first picked up in the aftermath of the Indian Blockade in 2015, but once petrol was available again, sales tapered off.
“For a long time we had difficulty convincing customers to switch from petrol to electric scooters, but with tax breaks for battery vehicles, there has been an upsurge in people buying electric in the recent months,” explains Subash Acharya of Bella Motors. With India committed to banning petrol two-wheelers by 2025 and China manufacturing only electric vehicles by 2030, Nepalis will have no choice but to buy electric, he adds.
It is now compulsory for electric two-wheelers in Nepal to be registered and their drivers need a license. However, customers now only pay 24% vehicle tax, the annual tax has been waived, and there is a 50% rebate on road improvement tax. Owners of e-bikes and e-scooters pay only Rs125 to renew their bluebook compared to Rs2,500 for petrol two-wheelers.
“A lot of my customers chose electric because of its low running cost,” says Shyam Sapkota of Terra Motors, which has sold over 1,500 electric two-wheelers since 2014. He says an average user saves up to Rs45,000 a year over a petrol bike.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6OXqYKuHhg&feature=youtu.beSuraj Joshi bought five NIU electric scooters for his staff at Real Time Solutions in Dhobighat, and says they were a great investment: “Electric scooters are very smooth for city rides, you don’t have to spend on maintenance and energy consumption is very low.”
With more regular electric supply, electric scooters can be recharged at night like mobile phones. They are also much lighter, reducing back problems and muscle stress, especially for women and the elderly. Misconceptions about mileage and range often put off potential buyers, but electric motors give better torque and range has improved with newer batteries.
Says Pranayna KC (pictured above) of Eco Infinity, which sells the NIU brand in Nepal: “If you use electric vehicles your running cost stays in Nepal, and they will also not pollute the air we breathe.” Despite positive growth, industry players say there is a long road ahead before the capital's petrol two-wheelers are replaced by electric ones. Better marketing, as well as more government incentives and policy clarity, will play a key role.
“Because of the sheer number of two-wheelers, electric scooters should be the top government priority,” says environmentalist Bhushan Tuladhar. Eight brands of electric two-wheelers will be launched at the Nepal Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) auto show 27 August-1 September.
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writer
Sonia Awale is Executive Editor of Nepali Times where she also serves as the health, science and environment correspondent. She has extensively covered the climate crisis, disaster preparedness, development and public health -- looking at their political and economic interlinkages. Sonia is a graduate of public health, and has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Hong Kong.