The rapid growth of electric vehicles in Nepal has brought a critical issue to the forefront: the management of high-voltage batteries. There is currently no clear national policy or action plan for handling batteries that have reached the end of their life, lost capacity, or sustained damage from accidents.
Data on the number of retired batteries in the country are missing. It remains unclear which importers or service providers hold responsibility for these units, or where they are being stored.
International examples highlight the scale of this task. Hong Kong expects to manage over 6,700 metric tons of old EV batteries by 2030 and has already established specialized recycling centers.
In Nepal, the challenge is compounded by the transport of new vehicles over difficult terrain. Rough roads and accidents can damage battery packs before they even reach customers. When these batteries are replaced, they often remain at workshops without a clear path for safe recycling.
Proper battery management must become a core part of national policy.
Writes on vehicle pricing, taxation and the Nepali auto market from ongoing tracking of distributor price lists. Editorial policy.
