Opinion | Nepal’s EV boom: A green leap or a digital trap?
Summary
Nepal has rapidly shifted to electric vehicles, leveraging its hydropower resources, but faces significant risks related to data security and digital sovereignty due to unregulated EV data collection and foreign control.
Key Points
- Nepal is undergoing one of the fastest transitions to electric vehicles globally, with EVs accounting for over 70% of new vehicle imports in fiscal year 2024–25.
- Electric vehicles collect vast amounts of personal and location data, raising concerns about data ownership, storage, and privacy due to Nepal's lack of regulatory frameworks.
- Recent global data breaches and vulnerabilities highlight the real and immediate cyber risks associated with EVs, posing national security threats for Nepal.
- Nepal needs effective regulations to ensure data sovereignty, local control, and sustainable practices, including battery recycling to support a truly green mobility transition.
