New Clean Infrastructure Fee Added on EV Imports for Charging and Battery Recycling

The government has introduced a new charge on imported electric vehicles (EVs), adding a “Clean Infrastructure Investment Fee” as part of the upcoming national budget.

Finance Minister Dr. Swornim Wagle, while presenting the fiscal year 2083/84 budget in a joint session of the federal parliament on Friday, said the new levy will be collected at the point of import through a dedicated mechanism.

He stated that the objective of the fee is to mobilize resources for developing essential EV-related infrastructure in the country, including support for domestic EV production, expansion of charging stations, and establishment of battery management and recycling systems.

According to the government, the revenue generated from this charge will be directed toward strengthening the country’s electric mobility ecosystem, particularly in expanding charging networks and improving battery-related infrastructure.

The new measure comes alongside broader changes in EV taxation policy, where the previous system based on motor power (kilowatt capacity) has been replaced with a price-based taxation structure.

While the government says the policy will help build long-term infrastructure capacity for electric mobility, it is expected to increase the upfront cost of importing electric vehicles.

As EV adoption continues to grow in Nepal, charging infrastructure is also gradually expanding across the country, and the new policy is likely to influence both pricing and market dynamics.