Kathmandu, Nov. 12 -- The import of electric vehicles (EVs) declined by 12 percent in the first three months of the current fiscal year compared to the same period last fiscal, mainly due to the months-long trade halt at northern border points following floods and landslides.

As EV imports dropped, internal combustion engine vehicles outpaced them in terms of quantity during the review period. But in terms of total value, EV imports continued to dominate.

According to the Department of Customs, Nepal imported 2,712 EVs-including buses, microbuses, cars, jeeps, and vans-worth Rs6.52 billion in the first quarter. In contrast, the country imported 3,616 fossil-fuel vehicles worth Rs4.26 billion.

Interestingly, the import of internal combu...