As EV numbers surge, specialists have warned that Nepal must set up an EV battery registration, collection and recycling system before large volumes of old packs start appearing.
Lithium-ion batteries used in vehicles here typically last 8–10 years, meaning end-of-life volumes will rise sharply within the next 4–5 years. Experts say batteries should be treated as a resource, not waste, because they contain aluminium, copper, lithium, nickel and cobalt, most of which can be recovered and reused.
NAIMA’s dialogue on battery recycling and ethanol blending in fuel heard calls to:
- Register each EV battery’s unique ID alongside the vehicle, so its importer, usage history and final destination can be tracked.
- Build a collection network where importers, dealers and retailers take back old packs, with cash or other incentives for consumers who return them.
- Prioritise second-life uses such as stationary energy storage before sending packs for recycling, to unlock extra economic value.
- Assign processing only to licensed recyclers, not vehicle importers, and create a framework covering EVs, mobiles, laptops and other lithium batteries.
Nebali experts also noted that a full lithium-ion recycling plant may not be immediately viable. Until enough batteries are collected to sustain local industry, Nepal can dismantle packs, separate plastics, aluminium and copper, and export the remaining black mass to India or China for refining.
Because Nepal’s terrain and open borders increase the risk of batteries leaving the country informally, specialists have suggested official collection centres on major highways and in key cities, backed by clear roles for government, importers, consumers and recycling companies.
Writes on vehicle pricing, taxation and the Nepali auto market from ongoing tracking of distributor price lists. Editorial policy.