Yatri Motorcycles, a startup, has introduced sleek e-motorbikes in Nepal with the aim of encouraging people to switch to electric vehicles. The company believes that this transition can help clean up the country's polluted air, save money, reduce petrol imports, and contribute to achieving climate goals. Founder Ashim Pandey stated that it is inevitable for society to move towards electric vehicles as battery technology continues to improve. Globally, manufacturers are working on developing affordable, low-emission vehicles in response to the increasing number of countries planning to ban the sale of new fossil fuel-powered cars to address climate change. Despite Nepal's commitment in the 2015 Paris Agreement to have 20% electric vehicles by 2020, the country currently only has 1%, as reported by the Climate Action Tracker website. Nepal has a small carbon footprint globally 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 electric vehicles by reducing taxes and customs duties on imports and installing 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, Nepal has approximately 700 electric cars, 5,000 electric scooters, and 40,000 electric rickshaws, according to the Electric Vehicle Association of Nepal. WORLD-CLASS Yatri Motorcycles was established in 2017 with the vision of creating superior electric vehicles in Nepal. Pandey, the founder, expressed the company's goal of expanding into international markets and exporting advanced technology and capital goods. Drawing from his background as an aerospace engineer in The Netherlands and experience designing hydrogen-powered race cars in university, Pandey has an ambitious 10-year plan. The company's first project, Project Zero, is a high-end motorbike featuring a digital dashboard, 4G connectivity, keyless start, a 240km range, and a maximum speed of 140km/h, with a two-hour recharge time. It surpasses most two-wheelers available in the market, which are typically manufactured in China and India, offering lower range and speed but costing almost 2,000,000 Nepalese rupees ($16,797) - nearly seven times the price of a petrol motorbike. Yatri introduced a more budget-friendly model, Project One, priced at 500,000 rupees in April, leading to 50 orders within a week. "The initial cost will decrease as production scales up," according to Pandey. "We are on track to achieving our goal of selling 200 units in 2021." Motorcycles play a crucial role in the transition to electric vehicles as they represent 80% of Nepal's registered vehicles, offering commuters a cost-effective option compared to the crowded and chaotic public buses in the country, as per 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, trucks are the highest emitters at 29%, followed by cars and vans at 26%, and buses at 19%, with two-wheelers at 8%. Yatri's long-term objective is to introduce electric vans and buses for fleet operators by the end of the decade. Yatri believes that addressing the issue of space is crucial in solving the challenges of modern cities, and that a reliable, comfortable, and attractive public transportation system will be key in addressing urban mobility issues. In Nepal, there has been a history of experimenting with e-vehicles, such as trolleybuses and Safa Tempos. However, both of these options faced challenges - the electric buses failed due to mismanagement and the Safa Tempos lost popularity to diesel vehicles because of their inefficient batteries. The government is looking to reintroduce electric vehicles by purchasing 300 electric buses. One of the main obstacles in increasing e-vehicle sales is the lack of charging stations, according to Manish Pandey, a popular YouTuber who travels around the country on a motorbike. Despite planning to film a long-distance trip using an e-scooter six months ago, the 23-year-old had to cancel his plans. 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 indicated that the current availability of charging stations would deter him from choosing to ride an electric motorbike. He also highlighted the high cost of electric vehicles as a significant barrier to persuading regular motorcyclists to switch to environmentally friendly options. He mentioned that in a country like Nepal, where there is poor environmental awareness and people prioritize price over eco-friendly technology, convincing customers to go green is a challenge.