EV boss urges fact-based debate and safety focus in Nepal

Simex Inc managing director Yamuna Shrestha, who represents BYD in Nepal, has asked EV buyers and commentators to keep the public debate around electric vehicles focused on facts, evidence and safety instead of personal frustration or rumours.

Shrestha says it is natural to question new technology and point out weaknesses, but warns that turning one person's unmet expectations into a blanket attack on EV technology as a whole can mislead many consumers. Blind support is not the answer either. Her message is clear: check data, look at test results, and then ask for improvements where needed.

She stresses that Nepal's EV journey is tied to hydropower, domestic energy use and lower petroleum imports, not only to car sales. If more transport runs on the electricity already produced in Nepal, dependence on imported fuel can fall and local clean energy use can rise.

For Shrestha, safety, build quality and consumer interest must stay first as EV numbers grow. Manufacturers and importers need to invest in proper testing and reliable products, while buyers should study verified information before choosing a vehicle.

She welcomes fact-based criticism of EVs, but cautions that negative social media campaigns without proof can damage trust in new technology. Any evaluation, she says, should look at safety performance, real-world range and efficiency, and the wider economic and environmental impact.

Her long-term goal is for Nepal to run more vehicles on its own clean energy, cut fuel imports, and hand the next generation a cleaner and more self-reliant country. For that, she believes every stakeholder — brands, dealers, regulators and users — shares the responsibility to spread correct information, put safety first and judge EVs on solid evidence.

Verdict: Shrestha's appeal is a timely reminder that Nepal's EV shift will only succeed if buyers and brands keep the conversation honest, data-driven and centred on safety and clean domestic energy.