Kathmandu, March 24: In the first eight months of the current financial year, 2,200 units of electric vehicles (EVs) have been imported into Nepal. According to the data released by the Customs Department, two thousand 198 four-wheeled electric vehicles were imported in the eight months of the current financial year. According to the department, in the eight months of the current financial year, nine models of vehicles worth 5.5 billion rupees have been imported. According to the department, 1,749 four-wheelers worth 4.92 billion rupees have been imported. In the months of January and February alone, 449 electric vehicles worth Rs. 562.7 million have been imported.

According to the department, 2 thousand 139 electric vehicles of 100-kilowatt capacity have been imported from different countries. 762 million rupees have been spent to import 333 four-wheeled electric vehicles with a capacity of 100 kilowatts from China. The state has spent 4.25 billion rupees while importing 1571 four-wheeled electric vehicles of 100 KW capacity from India. 232 electric vehicles of 100 kW capacity have been brought from South Korea and 3 electric vehicles from Indonesia.

In the budget of the current fiscal year, the government increased the customs duty on electric vehicles with a capacity of 300 kilowatts from 40 percent to 60 percent. Through the Economic Act, the government had increased the customs duty from 15 percent to 30 percent on electric vehicles with a capacity of 100 kW to 200 kW.
Likewise, the excise duty on electric vehicles with a capacity of 300 kilowatts has been increased from 45 to 60 percent. Because of this, electric vehicles of this capacity have been imported in a low amount in eight months of the current financial year.