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Nepal, Thailand, Costa Rica. No, this isn’t a travel agency brochure. These are the countries that are currently leaving us in the dust when it comes to electric mobility.
When we talk about the successful uptake of electric cars, most of us automatically think of Norway. And of course, with a 97% share of sales, they’re in a league of their own. But just for fun – would you guess who is in second place in this global ranking for 2025?
It’s Nepal. Yes, you read that right. The country beneath the Himalayas reports an incredible 73%! And that is by no means the only surprise. Countries such as Thailand (21%), Costa Rica (17%) and Indonesia (15%) are adopting the new technology much faster than we are here in the Czech Republic. With 10%, we’re languishing at the bottom of the table. We probably don’t even need to mention China, with its 53%.
What does this tell us? It turns out that where people and markets aren’t weighed down by decades of a heavy ‘combustion tradition’, they simply leap straight to modern and pragmatic technologies. Often, EVs simply make the most economic sense there, whether due to local energy sources or the absence of old prejudices. The world simply keeps turning and waits for no one.
Why is electric mobility doing so well in Nepal?
1. Significant savings and economic benefits
- Reducing dependence on oil: According to figures from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the country will save approximately $22 million a year for oil imports, and this figure continues to rise.
- Significantly lower running costs: For local drivers, the savings are dramatic. For example, a van driver said that whilst he used to pay around $40 a day for diesel, the cost of electricity for the same route is now only about $6.
2. Clean energy as a key factor
- Own resources: Almost all of Nepal’s electricity comes from hydroelectric power stations. This means that electric cars are genuinely environmentally friendly in Nepal, as they are not powered by coal or gas.
- Energy self-sufficiency: Thanks to the development of hydropower, 94% of the population now has access to the electricity grid. The country currently has a capacity of 2,600 megawatts, which is continuing to grow.
3. Government support and objectives
- Ambitious plans: Nepal has committed to ensuring that electric cars account for 25% of all car sales by 2025 and up to 90%.
- Tax relief: The government strongly supports sales at lower duty rates. Whilst cars with internal combustion engines are subject to duties of between 276% and 329%, the rate for electric cars is only between 25% and 90%.
4. Infrastructure and the market
- Charging stations: There are currently around 400 charging stations in the country, and their number is expected to double over the course of the year.
- Leading brands: The passenger car market is dominated by a Chinese manufacturer BYD (Atto 3 model) and Indian Dad (the Nexon EV model).
5. Environmental and health impacts
- The fight against smog: Kathmandu is one of the most polluted cities in the world. The switch to electric vehicles is seen as an essential step towards improving air quality and public health (by reducing the incidence of respiratory diseases).
Nepal is using its abundant hydropower resources to ‘overtake’ its neighbours in the adoption of modern technologies, which brings it both environmental benefits and significant economic relief.
Sources:
https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2025/trends-in-electric-car-markets-2
https://techxplore.com/news/2024-09-nepal-spree-powers-electric-vehicle.html
https://nepalitimes.com/news/how-much-will-electric-cars-cost-now
