EV owners face challenges due to fewer charging station

LALITPUR, Oct 18: The owners and drivers of electric vehicles in Nepal are facing challenges due to the lack of charging stations, as the use of these vehicles continues to rise. Both ordinary passengers and transport entrepreneurs have expressed numerous concerns due to the lack of sufficient charging stations along major highways and long-haul routes.

In this context, they drew the attention of the authorities concerned that they have to wait in queue for hours to charge vehicles. Additionally, the charging stations in the forest areas do not have basic amenities such as quality hotels and restrooms, while the privately operated charging stations are almost twice as expensive as government-owned charging stations.

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Mamta Rai, one of the passengers, said that although there are charging stations in the forest areas, the authorities concerned should pay immediate attention to the lack of hygienic toilets, quality food, and proper security arrangements.

Passengers complain that they feel cheated due to the high fares for electric vehicles, despite their low operating costs. 

Lalit Bahadur Thing, a resident of Hetauda, urged the government and stakeholders to reduce these fares, which have been charged at rates similar to those of diesel vehicles.

Rohit Shah, a driver from Birgunj said that the price of one unit of electricity in the government charging station is Rs 4, while the private sector charges up to Rs 8. This has increased crowding at government stations, posing challenges to electric vehicles operating on long routes. “The state has to pay attention to this issue,” he said.

Similarly, another driver Prem Ale from Biratnagar said, “Driving on the BP Highway has become challenging due to the recent floods and landslides that occurred on September 28 and 29. Currently, vehicles heading towards the eastern region are using the Kanti Highway which does not have any charging stations. It is crucial for the relevant authorities to address this issue.”