Nepal sees a surge in electric vehicle imports as fuel prices rise

Nepal is seeing growing demand for electric vehicles as global fuel prices climb amid the Middle East conflict and disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The country had an estimated 50,000 EVs among 6.2 million registered vehicles, and imported more than 13,500 electric vehicles between mid-2024 and mid-2025, twice the number of petrol vehicles brought in over the same period, according to government data cited in the report.

Rising hydropower generation, a comparatively cleaner electricity grid and an expanding network of highway charging stations have supported the shift. EV owners and drivers said running costs were now lower, while dealers said they were struggling to meet demand, with hundreds of vehicles still awaiting customs clearance. The government has approved rules allowing petrol and diesel vehicles to be converted to electric power, and plans to replace about 10,000 vehicles damaged in last year's protests with EVs.