The country’s largest capacity electric charging depot has been put into operation by the common transport

Common Transport Cooperative Society Limited has launched an electric charging depot with the country’s largest charging capacity.

Transport on Tuesday operationalized a depot with 11 electric chargers in Central Office Complex Pulchok, Lalitpur.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghuveer Mahaseth formally inaugurated the depot. Simultaneously, the organization’s 40 electric bus service was also launched.

Each charger with a GBT-type charging port has a capacity of 88 kWh. Four 1100 kW (1.1 MW) transformers have been installed for power supply. At the depot, 22 buses can be charged at a time.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Mahaseth stated that the nationwide implementation of electric buses is a priority to improve public transportation.

Kulman Ghising, executive director of Nepal Electricity Authority and a program guest, said there was initially a lack of space to construct charging stations. Still, the order of station construction has accelerated, and he is happy that the charging station has also been built.

Kankamani Dixit, President of Common Transport, also expressed his belief that since the organization’s electric buses could not be fully operational due to the lack of charging stations, charging would now be no problem, and the bus service could continue.

Likewise, he said that Sazha has succeeded in converting diesel buses into electric buses, and based on this success, a workshop on transport operation and production will be organized.

He said that although the government’s policy included diesel to electric conversion, it could not be effectively implemented due to the lack of regulations, so he expects the necessary support from the government.

Common Transport has received funding from the Government of Nepal to electrify public transportation. They have divided the investment into three parts and used the first part to purchase 40 electric buses. These buses will operate on various routes in the valley.

The electric bus is 8.5 meters long, has front and rear air suspension, lithium iron phosphate battery (161 kWh), load capacity of 4700 kg, 50 passenger capacity with 24 seats and standing seats, and low floor, disabled-friendly city bus. These are equipped with CCTV and GPS technology and a digital display.

Common Transport has advanced the process of purchasing additional 12-meter electric buses through international bidding. In addition, buying and operating more long-distance super deluxe buses under the ‘Provincial Service’ to connect different provinces has also progressed.

Earlier, 71 Tata and Ashok Leyland diesel buses were manufactured in India, and the number of these 40 buses manufactured by the CHTC company of Chave reached 111. There is a concentration in the valley and outside the valley up to Baglung and Belhia.