EV Servicing in Nepal: Is Your Workshop Ready?

Yes, an independent workshop in Nepal can earn from electric vehicles, but it has to choose its jobs carefully and put safety first. EVs now make up nearly 80 percent of newly imported four-wheeler passenger vehicles, according to a government study reported by The Kathmandu Post in May 2026, yet the same report says servicing capacity has not kept up. That gap is a real opportunity for workshops that prepare, and a risk for those that guess.

How big is the EV wave in Nepal?

Nepal's Department of Customs recorded 44,534 electric vehicles imported in fiscal year 2024/25, as reported by The Annapurna Express. Most came from China, with a few from India.

These figures are as reported by those outlets from customs data, so check current numbers before quoting them elsewhere. For a workshop, the number that matters most is the share of new cars: those are the vehicles that will be coming through your door for years.

Who will service all these vehicles?

The Kathmandu Post report, citing a government study and industry experts, says EV servicing is concentrated in authorised dealerships and a few urban technical centres, that most companies other than a few established importers lack authorised service facilities, and that outside major cities there is a shortage of trained technicians and diagnostic equipment. Customers often struggle to find a service centre after buying. For an independent workshop, that is demand waiting for someone trained and organised enough to meet it.

Do electric vehicles need less servicing?

Some of it, yes. An EV has no engine, so it typically has no engine oil, oil filter, spark plug or timing belt service, which is the routine work that fills most workshops today. But an EV is still a vehicle. It has brakes, tyres, suspension, steering, wipers, lights, cabin air conditioning and a 12V battery, and those jobs do not go away. Owners will still come in, just for different work.

What can a workshop take on today?

A sensible rule is to split jobs into what your current team can do safely and what must be referred. This is general guidance, not a technical standard, so always follow the vehicle maker's instructions.

• Usually within reach of a trained general workshop: tyres and wheel alignment, brakes and brake fluid, suspension and steering, wipers and lights, cabin air filters, and the 12V auxiliary battery
• Take on only with proper training, tools and the maker's procedure: anything that touches the high-voltage battery, motor, inverter or charging system, including the cabling, which is usually orange
• Refer to the importer or an authorised centre: battery pack faults, software and firmware updates, and warranty repairs

Safety comes first

High-voltage systems can seriously injure or kill, and a mistake can also ruin an expensive battery. Do not let anyone open or work on high-voltage components unless they have been trained for it, with the right insulated tools and the manufacturer's procedure. If you are not sure, say no and refer the job. A workshop's reputation survives a referral. It does not survive an accident.

Training is the bottleneck. The Kathmandu Post report says Nepal needs more technical training centres and a larger pool of skilled technicians. Ask importers and training institutes what is available to independent workshops, and send your best people first.

How to run an EV-ready workshop as a business

Servicing EVs is partly a technical question and partly a business one. Five habits matter more than any single tool.

• Keep EV jobs with trained people. Every job card in MekanikMitra carries an assigned mechanic that the whole team can see, so EV work stays with the technicians you have trained instead of whoever is free. See technician assignment.
• Quote clearly. Many EV owners are new to servicing and nervous about cost. A written estimate the customer approves from their phone before work starts avoids disputes. See what vehicle owners should expect.
• Record condition and history. Pre-work photos protect you on a vehicle you may not know well, and the service history you build gives the owner a reason to come back.
• Track the parts you actually use. EV parts can be slow-moving and costly, so stock only what your jobs demand and watch low-stock levels. See stock management.
• Remind owners when service is due. Set a reminder per vehicle by date, kilometres or both, and the owner is reminded by SMS, which brings new EV owners back.

A checklist before your first EV

• Decide which EV jobs you will accept and which you will refer, and write it down
• Confirm who on your team has had EV or high-voltage training, and who has not
• Get the right insulated tools and safety equipment before the first job, not after
• Ask the importer or dealer about warranty conditions, so a workshop job does not void an owner's cover
• Agree a referral partner, such as the importer or an authorised centre, for battery and software faults
• Show EV prices on a written estimate that the customer approves before work starts
• Open a job card with arrival photos for every EV
• Tell customers plainly what you do and do not service

Where does MekanikMitra fit?

MekanikMitra is workshop management software, not an EV diagnostic tool. It does not read battery data or connect to the vehicle. It runs the business side: job cards, estimates, assigned mechanics, stock, invoices and service history, the same way for a petrol car, a scooter or an EV. A workshop can start on the Free Forever plan with 15 job cards a month and no card, and see the full feature list. For plan prices, see what workshop software costs in Nepal.

This article is general information, not technical, safety or legal advice. Always follow the vehicle manufacturer's instructions, and make sure anyone working on high-voltage systems is properly trained.