Startup Yatri Motorcycles is introducing sleek e-motorbikes in Nepal in an effort to encourage the switch to electric vehicles, reduce pollution, save money, decrease petrol imports, and help the country achieve its climate goals. Founder Ashim Pandey believes that battery technology will soon make internal combustion engines obsolete. Many countries are also focusing on developing affordable, low-emission vehicles to combat global warming, with some planning to ban the sale of new fossil fuel-powered cars. Despite its pledge in the 2015 Paris Agreement, Nepal currently only has 1% electric vehicles, far below its target of 20% by 2020. Nepal has a low carbon footprint on a global scale due to its extensive forest cover and reliance on hydropower for electricity. However, emissions are increasing due to a rise in petrol and diesel vehicle imports and fossil fuel consumption. The government aims to transition to e-vehicles by offering incentives such as reduced taxes and customs duties on imports and more charging stations. Despite a commitment to have e-vehicles account for 90% of private passenger vehicle sales by 2030, progress has been slow. Currently, there are approximately 700 electric cars, 5,000 electric scooters, and 40,000 electric rickshaws in Nepal according to the Electric Vehicle Association of Nepal. Yatri Motorcycles, a world-class company established in 2017, aims to create top-quality electric vehicles in Nepal. Founder Pandey expressed the company's goal of expanding into international markets and moving beyond Nepal's traditional exports to cutting-edge technology. With a background in aerospace engineering and experience designing hydrogen-powered race cars, Pandey launched Project Zero in 2019, a high-end electric motorbike with advanced features such as a digital dashboard, 4G connectivity, keyless start, a range of 240km, and a maximum speed of 140km/h that recharges in just two hours. Most two-wheelers on the market, particularly those made in China and India, are easily surpassed by this new electric vehicle in terms of range and speed. Despite costing almost 2,000,000 Nepalese rupees ($16,797) - nearly seven times the price of a petrol motorbike - this new vehicle has received significant interest, with 50 orders for the more affordable model, Project One, within a week of its launch in April. The company plans to lower the initial price as production scales up and is confident in meeting its sales goal of 200 units for 2021. Motorcycles are seen as a key factor in the transition to electric vehicles in Nepal, as they make up 80% of the country's registered vehicles and offer commuters a more affordable and efficient alternative to the crowded and chaotic public bus system. E-motorbikes alone are not enough to reduce carbon emissions in Nepal's transportation sector. According to 2011 government data, the top three emitters in the country are trucks at 29%, cars and vans at 26%, and buses at 19%, with two-wheelers accounting for 8%. Yatri's long-term objective is to introduce e-vans and e-buses for fleet operators by the end of the decade. "In order to address the challenges of modern cities, we must first tackle the issue of limited space," he explained. Yatri believes that a reliable, comfortable, and attractive public transportation system is key to solving the problem of urban mobility in modern cities. Nepal has a history of trying out e-vehicles, such as trolleybuses from China in the 1970s and Safa Tempos from the United States in the 1990s. However, the electric buses failed due to mismanagement and the Safa Tempos lost out to diesel vehicles because of their inefficient batteries. The government plans to reintroduce electric vehicles by purchasing 300 electric buses. A major challenge in increasing e-vehicle sales is the need for more charging stations, according to Manish Pandey, a popular YouTuber who travels around the country by motorbike. Pandey had planned to film a long-distance trip on an e-scooter six months ago but ultimately had to cancel the trip. He stated that due to the lack of charging stations along the route and the limited range of electric vehicles, he was unable to finish the journey. He mentioned that, given the current availability of charging stations, he would not opt for an electric motorbike. Additionally, he highlighted the expensive cost of electric vehicles as a significant barrier in persuading regular motorcyclists to switch to environmentally friendly options. He also noted that in a country like Nepal, where there is low environmental awareness and people prioritize price over environmental benefits, convincing customers to choose eco-friendly technology is challenging.