Yatri Motorcycles, a startup, has launched sleek e-motorbikes in an effort to persuade Nepalis to switch to electric vehicles. The company believes that transitioning to electric vehicles can help clean up Nepal's polluted air, save money, reduce petrol imports, and assist in achieving the country's climate goals. Founder Ashim Pandey stated that it is inevitable for the world to switch to electric vehicles as battery technology advances. Countries around the world are working on developing affordable, low-emission vehicles as more nations plan to ban the sale of new fossil fuel-powered cars in order to combat global warming. Despite Nepal's pledge in the 2015 Paris Agreement to have 20% of its vehicles be electric by 2020, only 1% currently are, according to the Climate Action Tracker website. Nepal, despite being a small carbon emitter globally, is experiencing a rise in emissions due to increased imports of petrol and diesel vehicles and fossil fuel consumption. The government has ambitious plans to transition to e-vehicles through incentives such as reduced taxes and customs duties on imports and the installation of more charging stations. However, progress has been slow, even though there is a pledge for e-vehicles to make up 90% of all private passenger vehicle sales by 2030. Currently, Nepal has approximately 700 electric cars, 5,000 electric scooters, and 40,000 electric rickshaws, as reported by the Electric Vehicle Association of Nepal. Established in 2017, WORLD-CLASS Yatri Motorcycles was founded with the goal of creating top-quality electric vehicles in Nepal. Pandey, the founder, expressed the company's intention to expand beyond Nepal and begin exporting advanced technology and capital goods, moving away from traditional handicrafts. With a background in aerospace engineering and experience designing hydrogen-powered race cars, Pandey has a 10-year plan that began in 2019 with Project Zero, a high-end motorbike featuring modern technology such as a digital dashboard, 4G connectivity, keyless start, a 240km range, and a top speed of 140km/h that can recharge in just two hours. It surpasses the majority of two-wheelers available in the market, which are manufactured in China and India and have a lower range and speed, but are priced at almost 2,000,000 Nepalese rupees ($16,797) - nearly seven times the cost of a petrol motorbike. Yatri introduced a more budget-friendly model, Project One, priced at 500,000 rupees in April, which resulted in 50 orders in just a week. Pandey mentioned that the initial price will decrease as they increase production. They are on track to achieve their goal of selling 200 units in 2021. Motorcycles are crucial in the transition to e-vehicles as they make up 80% of Nepal's registered vehicles, offering commuters a cheaper alternative to the country's overcrowded and chaotic public buses, according to government data. However, electric motorbikes alone will not be enough to reduce carbon emissions in Nepal's transportation sector. According to government data from 2011, the biggest sources of emissions are trucks at 29%, cars and vans at 26%, and buses at 19%, with two-wheelers accounting for only 8%. Yatri's long-term objective is to introduce electric vans and buses for fleet operators by the end of the decade. Addressing the issue of space is crucial in solving the challenges faced by modern cities, as a well-designed and efficient public transportation system will play a key role in improving urban mobility. Nepal has a history of trying out e-vehicles, such as trolleybuses and Safa Tempos, but they were unsuccessful due to mismanagement and inefficient batteries. The government now plans to bring back electric vehicles by purchasing 300 electric buses. One major obstacle to increasing e-vehicle sales is the lack of charging stations, according to Manish Pandey, a YouTuber who travels around Nepal on a motorbike. Despite planning to film a long-distance trip on an e-scooter six months ago, the 23-year-old had to cancel his plans. He stated that he was unable to complete the journey because there were no charging stations along the route and electric vehicles have limited range. He added that he would not choose to ride an electric motorbike due to the current lack of charging stations. Additionally, he mentioned the high cost of electric vehicles as a significant barrier to persuading regular motorcyclists to switch to environmentally friendly options. He noted that in a country like Nepal, where environmental awareness is low and people prioritize price over eco-friendly technology, convincing customers to go green is challenging.