The government has cleared the way to convert fossil fuel vehicles to electric drive.
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has cleared the way by publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette containing provisions on the provision of fuel system modification in vehicles.
This notification has been published because the government of Nepal, on the basis of the authority mentioned by Section 176 of the Vehicle and Transport Management Act, 2049, has decided to exempt vehicles whose fuel system will be modified to be environmentally friendly or energy efficient so that the restrictive phrase of subsection (2) of Section 39 of the same Act will not apply for three years.
Following to this decision, now vehicle owners can convert their fuel vehicles to EVs within 3 years.
However, even if the legal way is cleared, it will not be implemented immediately as the standards have not been made. Currently, the Department of Transportation is making the standards necessary to convert fossil fuel vehicles into EVs.
A concerned official at the department, the drafting of standards is currently underway. After the draft is prepared, the final form will be given with the necessary opinions and suggestions. He said that fuel vehicles can be converted to EVs only after the standards are approved.
The cabinet meeting held on 2nd of November decided that fuel vehicles can be converted to EV for 3 years. According to the current Vehicle and Transport Act 2049, the vehicle owner cannot change any colour, shape, engine or chassis of the vehicle without obtaining permission. The Council of Ministers has made arrangements to convert engine vehicles into EVs by removing this barrier.
According to section 39 sub-section 1 of the Act, the owner of the vehicle shall not modify the vehicle by changing the colour, seat, number, shape, engine or chassis of the vehicle without obtaining the approval of the authorized officer.
In the section 177 of the same Act, if there are any obstacles in the implementation of the said Act, the Government of Nepal can remove such obstacles by publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette. The Council of Ministers has removed the obstruction for 3 years by using Section 177 of the Act. Moreover, within 3 years, the new law will be repealed again.
(Please read this also https://thenepalweekly.com/2025/11/25/27553/)
