The New Electric Bike

Changing the Way Kathmandu Moves:

by MALIN GURUNG

FROM ISSUE # 158 (February 2009) | IN THIS ISSUE
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IMAGE: ANUP PRAKASH

The streets of Kathmandu are a sight during rush hours. The alley sized roads are congested with hundreds of vehicles with angry drivers blaring their horns, as they complain about the government and everything else that comes between them and their destination. This, however, has no effect on the commotion as they can hardly move a few inches every minute. But oblivious to the entire hubbub, Sudip swiftly makes his way through the sea of vehicles, making use of every few inches of the precious road space, gliding his way out.

"I simply love my ride," smiles Sudip Maharjan showing off his sleek electric bike. "It's perfect for a city like Kathmandu where the roads are congested and the petrol is scarce." Sudip has been riding the bike for about a year now. "Apart from a few visits to the service centre, it's all been good," says a content Sudip.

Unlike normal bikes, electric bikes leave behind comparatively low carbon footprint and it's also a non-pollutant vehicle. Apart from being eco-friendly, electric bikes have many other advantages over the normal ones. Even though the initial investment is higher, the low maintenance cost along with zero fuel cost makes up for the higher price. The price range of such bikes in Nepal starts from Rs 20,000 to Rs 45,000. A single 6 to 8 hours of charge provides enough juice to make it run fully for 60 to 80 km. And if by any chance, your battery dies midway through, there's always the trusty pedal for manual cycling.

Since its introduction a few years ago, electric bikes have been enjoying a steady popularity in Nepal. The long waits for fuel and the deteriorating traffic condition, all worked in favour of them, until recently. "The perennial load shedding hours has hampered sales," says Sambhu Chaudhary, proprietor of Prakash Cycle Store near the Bagmati Bridge. "We used to sell about 5 to 8 electric bikes each month but now it's dropped to none." Sambhu's store is one of the few dealers selling electric bikes that have sprouted in the Valley in recent times.

Load shedding is not the only factor hampering the sales, there's also the mindset of the people. "I'd rather walk everywhere than ride this one," says Ashish Subedi, who's recently bought a Yamaha FZ1. When asked why, he simply adds, "I do not want to look funny."  Ashish represents a big chunk of the Kathmanduites, who are hesitant to ride electric bikes and prefer normal bikes. "There's nothing wrong with riding electric bikes. People need to change their mindset. I'd recommend them over the normal ones any day of the year," stresses Sambhu.

But even with these few hindrances, the future of electric bikes seems rosy in Nepal. "People are slowly waking up to these alternative modes of transport. These kinds of ideas should not only be restricted in papers. We must all brace new concepts while helping the environment along the way," says Sudip Maharjan. "After all, we must give back to Mother Earth."