Kathmandu’s electric mobility journey began long before electric vehicles became a global policy priority. Nearly three decades ago, the city’s Safa Tempos – locally developed, zero-emission three-wheelers – emerged as one of South Asia’s earliest examples of electric public transport. For years, they have been a vital part of daily life in the valley, operating through narrow streets and dense traffic, sustained largely by the perseverance of their drivers rather than formal systems of support.
Today, that legacy is at a turning point. Many Safa Tempo drivers rely on ageing, second-hand vehicles, informal financing, and home-based charging. High battery replacement costs and limited access to affordable credit have slowed reinvestment, while the fleet is gradually being phased out. Yet their contribution remains foundational: Safa Tempos demonstrated that electric public transport is viable in Nepal – long before an “EV transition” entered national policy debates.
Scaling electric mobility for a growing city
As mobility needs in Kathmandu evolve, larger electric vehicles are increasingly being introduced, particularly electric mini- and micro-buses (EMBs). These vehicles offer higher passenger capacity, more predictable schedules, improved safety and comfort, and digital systems that bring greater structure to daily operations. Rather than replacing the past, this shift reflects what scaling electric mobility requires in a growing urban environment.
The Nepal – Electric Transport (Sustainable Electric Transport for Nepal, SET4NPL) project, supported by the Mitigation Action Facility, is helping to bridge this transition by providing technical support and mobilising financial mechanisms. Beyond supporting the introduction of EMBs, the project places strong emphasis on workforce development to ensure livelihoods are not left behind as the system modernises.
Investing in people – women at the centre of the transition
A key element of this approach is SET4NPL’s targeted training programme for women drivers. In a sector traditionally dominated by men, women are being trained to operate electric micro- and minibuses, opening new pathways for employment and economic independence. Participants include both experienced Safa Tempo drivers and complete beginners – some of whom had never driven an electric vehicle before enrolling.
The training is demanding. Practical exercises such as figure-eight manoeuvres, hill starts, and circuit driving require intense concentration and confidence. For many participants, early nervousness has gradually given way to pride and self-assurance, supported by patient instructors and peer learning.
From skills development to long-term inclusion
For some women, the programme is deeply personal. Younger participants see driving as a life skill that offers long-term opportunity, while experienced Safa Tempo drivers view the transition as a continuation of their fight for recognition and dignity in public space. Having once faced stigma for entering the profession, many now aspire to take the next step – owning and operating electric microbuses themselves.
The impact of the programme is already extending beyond the training grounds. Awareness is spreading through social media, friends, and family networks, inspiring other women to consider careers in public transport. By prioritising women within training pathways, SET4NPL is helping ensure that Nepal’s electric mobility transition is not only low-emission, but also socially inclusive.
The impact of the programme is already extending beyond the training grounds. Awareness is spreading through social media, friends, and family networks, inspiring other women to consider careers in public transport. By prioritising women within training pathways, SET4NPL is helping ensure that Nepal’s electric mobility transition is not only low-emission, but also socially inclusive.
As Kathmandu expands its electric public transport system, the quiet work of those who sustained its earliest electric vehicles remains central. Building a resilient, climate-friendly mobility future in Nepal depends not only on new technologies, but on enabling the people who shaped the first chapter of electric transport to drive the next – literally and figuratively.