NAST seminar examines economic viability of EV conversion

The Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) on Wednesday convened a seminar titled “The Prospects of EV Conversion in Nepal: Opportunities and Challenges” at its premises in Lalitpur, bringing together academicians, policymakers, automotive engineers, researchers, and industry stakeholders to assess the current state of electric vehicle conversion research and the country’s readiness for a broader transition away from internal combustion engines.

Four institutions: Pulchowk Campus, Thapathali Campus, Kathmandu University, and NAST presented research covering the full spectrum of EV conversion, from policy and imports to technical specifications and economic feasibility. The opening presentations traced the growth of EV imports in Nepal and outlined key policy milestones shaping the sector, before moving into the technical dimensions of retrofitting the process of converting internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric powertrains covering component selection, system sizing, and comparative cost analysis.

A representative from Pulchowk Campus addressed safety considerations in the retrofitting of two- and three-wheelers, and flagged heightened risks associated with four-wheeler conversions, underscoring the need for standardized safety protocols before any commercial-scale rollout. The Thapathali Campus presentation stressed on the importance of consistency and standardization in the conversion process, arguing that a domestically developed, uniform conversion framework could reduce dependence on expensive proprietary kits currently supplied by international manufacturers. The Kathmandu University pointed to encouraging market trends, noting that the rising global demand for EVs and batteries has driven down the cost of conversion by approximately 40 percent compared to what was required previously, citing the conversion of a Maruti Suzuki 800 as a reference case.

The most consequential finding of the seminar, however, came from the NAST presentation, which revealed that the total cost of converting an ICE vehicle to electric does not yet offer a clear economic advantage over purchasing a new EV of comparable specifications already available in the market. The research concluded that EV conversion, in its current form, would require meaningful government funding, institutional support, and targeted subsidy allocation to become a financially viable option for the average Nepali consumer or fleet operator.

In his closing remarks Secretary of NAST acknowledged the research presented as meaningful progress in Nepal’s EV conversion journey. Situating the work within the global urgency to reduce fossil fuel dependence, he emphasized that the findings represent important groundwork for the next phase of research and development in the field.

Opening remarks were made by Roshan Pandey, head, Faculty of Technology, NAST, while senior technical officer at NAST Ishwor Bajracharya shed light on the present financial visbility of electric vehicle in Nepal.

The presentations were followed by an open discussion panel featuring responses and queries from invited participants across sectors.