The operating cost of electric scooter is just Rs. 12 per 100 km

Tail G scooters are branded two-wheelers manufactured by renowned Chinese company. Tail G has opened its show room at Narayanchaur, Naxal in Kathmandu in the year 2000. Tail G is offering two categories of two-wheelers: Lion and Tiger. These electric scooters are equppped with high powered battery which can easily run in hilly areas with steep slopes and jigjag roads. Lion costing Rs. 330,000 can operate for 160 km with full charge and takes 3 hours for charging. It has 47Amp. 3.24 KW Lithium Iron Phosphate battery. Tiger costing Rs. 217,000 can operate for 100 km with full charge and takes 6-7 hours for charging. It has 32 Amp. 2.3 KW Lid Acid drycell battery. Tail G has become the leading electric scooter dealer in Kathmandu having nearly 10 percent share in the two-wheeler market of the country. Here are excerpts from an encounter with Sanjeev Shilpakar, director of Tail G, the sole agent of the electric scooter for Nepal, regarding the current status of electric scooter, its problems and prospects in the context of Nepal.

TNW: What was the purpose behind bringing in the electric scooters in Nepal ?

Sanjeev: The main objective of introducing the electric scooters was to reduce the cost at individual level and to minimize trade deficit of Nepal. Besides, it will also help in reducing air pollution. As you know Kathmandu was a very beautiful city but now it has become one of the most polluted cities in the world. We need to make the Kathmandu Metropolis clean, green and free from pollution. This can happen only if we use electric vehicles instead of diesel or petrol run ones. At present daily 1.2 million vehicles including cars, buses, jeeps and two-wheelers ply the streets of Kathmandu, which is making the city more and more polluted. The smoke belching vehicles have made the metropolis the most polluted. Our hard earned foreign exchange is also running out due to the growing import of petroleum products. So, the need has been felt to utilize clean energy, such as hydro-electricity which is available within the country.

TNW: How many scooters did you bring in Kathmandu to start the business?

Sanjeev: In the begining we imported around 200 scooters to start the business.

TNW: What type of response did you receive from the customers when you brought the first lot of electric scooters? Was it difficult to win the confidence of the people towards the two-wheelers?

Sanjeev: Certainly, it was very difficult to convince the people about the electric vehicle and to gain their confidence was a challenging job. In the beginning people were suspicious regarding the electric scooters. But gradually their awareness has increased and the confidence level has also grown. However, there is a need to further increase the awareness level.

TNW: Now how do you find their expectation at this moment? Are they satisfied, has their confidence grown enough to use the electric vehicles?

Sanjeev: I think all those who have bought electric scooters are satisfied. We are also providing them after-sales services. The performance of the two-wheelers is also good. Because this Tail – G brand also comes under environment e-mobility partner program under the Unted Nations.

TNW: Is your sales mainly centred in Kathmandu or you also do receive orders from outside the valley?

Sanjeev: We are selling the electric two-wheelers throughout the country through our dealers in Bhaktapur, Birtamod Itahari, Butwal, Pokha and Bhairahawa as well.

TNW: How many electric scooters have you sold so far?

Sanjeev: In 2022 altogether 7,000 electric scooters were sold across the country and our share was 7 per cent of the total sales. We have been the supplying the electric two – wheelers since 2000 and in the past 3 and half year we have sold around 1,000 scooters.

TNW: What are the features of Tail – G scooter?

Sanjeev: Tail – G scooter is designed as per the geographic condition of Nepal. Equipped with powerful motor it can easily climb steep slopes and run in rough and gravelled road as well.

TNW: What about charging facility?

Sanjeev: It can be charged with its charger anywhere any time like cell phone.

TNW: Does it have gears?

Sanjeev: Similar to gears, it has three modes, ie, Eco-mode, Normal- mode and Sports-mode.

TNW: What is the duration of the battery?

Sanjiv: It has Lithium battery which has two year’s warranty. If you find any defect than it can be replaced. As per the company’s claim it can normally operate 300,000 km.

TNW: What is the benefit of using the electric scooter?

Sanjeev: The cost of operation is less than 5 per cent as compared to the petrol or diesel operated vehicles? You can run the electric scooter for 100 km for the cost of just Rs. 12 to 15 for charging the vehicle.

TNW: What problems are you facing while selling the electric two-wheelers?

Sanjeev: Its operating procedure is little different than the ordinary scooters, which has to be learnt in the beginning. It has sensors, with which we should be familiar before operating it. Another problem is that we have to pay high customs duty and other charges. For example, we have to pay 10 per cent customs duty, 13 per cent VAT and Rs. 10,000 road tax per vehicle.

TNW: What is the future of electric vehicle in Nepal in your opinion?

Sanjeev: The future of electric vehicle is very bright. I think after five years, the electric vehicles will occupy forty per cent share of the total vehicles operating in the country.