The Nepal government has officially cleared the long-standing legal obstacles preventing the conversion of old diesel and petrol vehicles into electric vehicles (EVs). A cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on Sunday decided to establish the necessary legal framework for "retrofitting," the process of replacing internal combustion engines with electric motors and batteries.
Minister for Education, Science, and Technology Sumit Pokharel confirmed that the government will now facilitate this transition. The move follows years of advocacy by the National Innovation Center (NIC), led by Mahabir Pun. Although the NIC successfully converted several vehicles—including one for the Nepal Army—the projects were previously stalled because the Department of Transport Management refused to issue number plates or road permits under existing laws.
The primary hurdle was the Motor Vehicle and Transport Management Act, 1992, which strictly prohibited altering a vehicle’s original structure. This legal barrier, combined with high customs duties on conversion kits and technical challenges like battery management and weight balancing, forced many potentially reusable vehicles into scrap heaps.
Following the Cabinet’s decision, the Department of Transport Management is expected to draft a specific "Retrofitting Procedure." This initiative aims to reduce environmental pollution, save billions by cutting fossil fuel imports, and provide a significant boost to local engineering startups. Moving forward, the government's main challenge will be ensuring strict safety standards and battery quality for all converted vehicles.
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