SATV 02 March,Kathmandu: The second launching and handover ceremony of the J.M.E.V., E.V.Easy taxis organized by Sarina G. Trade Pvt. Ltd. took place in Kathmandu.
The event saw a strong presence of notable personalities including Bagmati Province's Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama Tamang, Deputy Chief of Mission of the People's Republic of China in Nepal Wang Xin, Minister for Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation of Bagmati Province Madhu Kumar Shrestha, Chairman of Sarina G. Trade Pvt. Ltd. Raju Shrestha, representatives from the Taxi Entrepreneurs Association, taxi drivers, and buyers, among others.
During the event, 24 electric taxis imported from China were handed over. The investors who participated in the initial launch expressed positive feedback. Umesh, a taxi driver who has been driving the J.M.E.V. E.V.Easy taxis for the past month, shared that these taxis are superior to others in terms of luxury, having a larger trunk, better mileage, and reliability on uphill and downhill roads. He further mentioned that the modern design makes the vehicle easy to drive. Umesh and other taxi drivers are optimistic that switching to electric vehicles will bring a positive change to their lifestyle.
Minister Madhu Kumar Shrestha of Bagmati Province expressed his support for the initiative, stating that the provincial government would take steps to establish charging stations and repair sites in various locations. He assured the taxi drivers that the provincial government would always act in their best interests.
Wang Xin, Deputy Chief of Mission at the People's Republic of China Embassy in Nepal, mentioned that over 83% of vehicles on Nepalese roads are now electric, which he found to be an encouraging sight. He highlighted China's role as a global leader in the production and export of electric vehicles, expressing their readiness to support Nepal in this transition. He also emphasized that electric vehicles, unlike fuel-powered ones, do not pollute the environment and should be promoted for the sustainable benefit of human civilization.
Bagmati Province Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama Tamang commended the organizers for their excellent work and expressed openness to discuss what the provincial government could do to support the cause. He also mentioned that he would initiate efforts to ensure that banks continue offering a 20% down payment and 80% finance scheme to provide more relief to drivers. He expressed confidence that the EV taxis would make a strong market presence, congratulating Raju Shrestha, Chairman of Sarina G. Trade Pvt. Ltd., for their efforts.
The taxi drivers and entrepreneurs who purchased the vehicles were seen smiling with hope, knowing they now have a vehicle that provides better mileage and comes with financial advantages. Organizers are optimistic that this electric taxi initiative will bring a significant positive change to the drivers’ and businesses’ lifestyles.
