More people are showing interest in electric cars in Nepal.
Why?
Because the custom duty for private electric cars in Nepal is only 10% as opposed to over 240% of the fossil fuel cars in 2017.
This law has attracted many people to rather invest in the electric cars in Nepal. To escape the heavy custom duty, they are buying electric cars. This is a positive sign for the country and the environment.
There are many benefits of owning an Electric Vehicles (EV). Low custom duty, low maintenance cost, environment-friendly, are some of the benefits.
Though there are many car brands in Nepal, there are very few models of electric cars. The automotive industry should see this as an opportunity.
Until then, these are the best electric cars in Nepal.
Electric Car Prices in Nepal
| Car | Brand | Type | Base Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ioniq EV | Hyundai | Electric Car | 53,00,000 |
| E6 | BYD | Electric Car | 50,00,000 |
| Soul EV | Kia | Electric Car | 56,00,000 |
| E20 Plus P8 | Mahindra | Electric Car | 31,00,000 |
Hyundai Ioniq Electric
The electric version on the Ioniq from Hyundai is the best looking electric car in Nepal. This sleek car has an aerodynamic design that helps it reduce wind barrier and save battery life. The aluminum used on the boot and hood of the car makes it lighter and more efficient.
The interior of the Ioniq is looks quite impressive. The cockpit of this car feels modern and sophisticated. The steering wheel has smart controls for easy access while driving. The instrument cluster has a futuristic display with all the necessary information. You get four driving modes with a push to start button.
For safety, Ioniq has ABS, 7 airbags, cruise control and electric parking brakes. The touchscreen infotainment system supports Apple car play and Android auto. Wireless Phone charger, along with seat heating and cooling are also integrated.
The car backs up its neat look with great performance. It can produce 120 PS or 88 kW of power and give a maximum torque of 295 Nm. All this power comes without any noise as the car rides in complete silence. The steering is light and handling the car is not a problem.
The 88 kW electric motor has a 28 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery with a range of up to 280 km on full charge. It takes 9-10 hours to charge the Ioniq from a standard socket. Quick charging can reduce the time by 5 hours. But, fast charging stations can power up the car to 80% in 30 minutes.
The Ioniq electric is available in 2 color options- Black Noir Pearl and Ceramic White. The price of the Ioniq starts at 53 lakhs.
BYD e6
BYD aka Build Your Dreams, major electric car makers in the world, launched the e6 in Nepal. Cimex Inc Pvt.Ltd., distributor of BYD vehicles, chose to get the e6 to Nepal as it was the bestseller in China in 2016 in the EV segment.
E6 is a 5 door crossover that looks quite plain and simple on the outside. No other electric car available in Nepal can match the power of this car. While driving this 5 seater crossover you can get the most power of 223 kW and a torque as high as 450 Nm. The car moves fast and fluently covers 70-80 kmph.
Internally, you get features like Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Anti-lock Brake System, Cruise Control, Hydraulic Brake Assist. However, this spacious car could do a little better with a few improvements.
A 75 kWh Fe battery which has a lifespan of 20 years, powers the e6. It takes 6 hours to charge with the standard 10 kW charger and 40 minutes using the 100 kW fast charging station. BYD has already built 5 fast charging stations within the valley so far with plans to build more.
This long-range car is available in 2 variants, 300km and 400km.
If you wish to buy this electric car in Nepal you will be paying 50 lakhs for the 300km variant. The 400 km variant cost an extra 13 lakhs.
Kia Soul EV
Kia Soul EV has been in Nepal for a few years now and it is one of the best selling Electric car in the country. The Soul EV is a spacious crossover SUV, thanks to its squarish design. As the roof of the car is quite high, you get enough head space while driving around in the car.
The interior of the car is also well thought of and given lots of technological updates. You get comfortable and standard looking seats with 280 liters of boot space. Kia also offers another variant of the Soul Ev with a panoramic sunroof. The digital instrument cluster and the lit up dashboard adds to the premium feel of the car.
The Soul features heated/cooled seats, rear parking assist and electric parking brake. You also get touchscreen infotainment system, steering controls and push start button.
The Soul Ev hold the 81.4 kW electric motor with the capacity of producing a maximum torque of 285 Nm. You can go from 0 to 100 kmph in a matter of 11 seconds and get a top speed of 145 kmph. For safety, it gets Brake Assist System, Hill Start Assist Control, Vehicle Stability Management, and up to 6 airbags.
To power up the car, the Soul EV get a 27 kWh Lithium-ion battery with a range of 112 km. Charging the battery can take 12 hours with the standard charger. The fast charger can reduce the time to 5 hours. The fast charging station can power the car to 80% in about 30 minutes.
As it is an electric car, it does not make any sound. But, the Virtual Engine Sound System helps the car make some noise.
The Soul Ev costs Rs 56 lakhs and the model with the sunroof costs 58 lakhs in Nepal with seven years warranty.
Mahindra E20 Plus P8
The updated Mahindra E20 Plus P8 is another option in the EV segment. This is the top variant of the e20 model and gets few upgrades from the other models.
The E20 plus is a compact car and looks tiny and unconventional compared to other vehicles. But with its unique look, it has its own charms.
The e20 Plus get a chrome-plated grille with projector Headlamps and LED tail lamps. The body uses stronger materials and is given alloy wheels and spoilers to enhance it. The new e20 now has four doors instead of two. The length, width, and height of the car are 3390 mm, 1575 mm and 1585 mm. It gets 170mm of ground clearance and 135 liters of boot space. This brings the total weight to 830 kg.
The interior of the car looks small but has a capacity of 4 people. It gets a digital instrument cluster with battery level indicator. Touchscreen infotainment, air conditioner, keyless entry system, and power windows are also included. The steering is light and handling the car feels super easy. Though the quality of the product used feels minimal, it gets the job done.
It holds the 3 Phase Induction Motor that can deliver a maximum power of 40 PS and 91 Nm of torque. The 210 AH Lithium-ion battery used can give you a driving range of 140 km and a top speed of 85 kmph. The charging time is 9 hours and 90 minutes with quick charging support.
Sipradi Trading Pvt. Ltd has set the price of the car at Rs 31 lakhs. It is available in 3 color options.
Other electric cars like the Renault ZOE and the Tata Tigor EV were also showcased at the NADA Auto Show. It could mean that these cars may be in the market soon. This will give customers more options in the electric cars segment in Nepal.
Buying an electric car in Nepal will benefit the environments and the country. Low cost of maintenance, advanced technology and safety will benefit the owner too.
As the number of EVs multiply, the dealers will have to provide more facilities. They have to establish many charging stations all over the country. This move will benefit you and country in more ways than one.