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Electric buses to be on the roads in Nepal by mid-2018

March 29, 2018 – Kathmandu, Nepal – GGGI Nepal’s partner, Sajha Yatayat, the largest cooperative bus operator in the Kathmandu Valley, hosted a reception today, to announce the deployment of three electric buses over the coming months. The reception was attended by municipal leaders, including the major of Lalitpur Municipality, federal government officials, including representatives of the Office of the Prime Minister, financing institutions, private sector representatives and the press.

Mr. Kanak Mani Dixit, Chairman of Sajha Yayayat welcomed guests to the reception. South Asia Regional Manager of BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, Mr. Aiffy Liu, formally announced BYD’s commitment to deliver the electric buses within the next 1-2 months. Two BYD K7 buses and one K9 bus will be deployed. BYD is the largest electric bus supplier in the world.

Along with an Ashok Leyland electric bus model, BYD electric buses were recommended as viable options to Sajha Yatayat by the GGGI Nepal team, following the completion of a pre-feasibility study which the GGGI Nepal team undertook for the bus operator. Sajha Yatayat decided to go ahead with BYD. The purpose of the study was to explore the viability, both operationally and financially, and the deployment of electric buses on Sajha Yatayat’s existing bus routes. The report showed clear operational and financial advantages in switching to electric buses, despite higher upfront costs. Nepali operators can achieve fuel savings of 80%, when compared to diesel, and maintenance costs are halved – making electric buses around USD 130,000 cheaper to operate than diesel over the life of the bus. In addition, social, economic and environmental benefits were assessed, amounting to USD 250,000 over the life of an electric bus in the case of Nepal. These social, economic and environmental benefits do not accrue to the operator, but rather to the wider society, as a result of improved air quality and increased energy security. As such, they justify government subsidy to support the transition to electric transportation.

In Kathmandu, there is growing concern over air quality, and the GGGI Nepal team is supporting the Government of Nepal to address this issue, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and delivering improved green transport solutions.