Empirical data from a public EV charging station, demonstrates approximately 422 tonnes of net operational CO₂ avoided over one year, establishing practical model for monitoring the climate benefits
Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is expanding rapidly in Nepal, yet its measurable environmental contribution is rarely assessed using real operational data. This study presents a 12-month case study of a public EV charging station in Pokhara, Nepal, utilizing actual charging records from October 2025 to September 2026. During the study period, the station delivered 446,667.68 kWh of electricity across 22,539 charging sessions. Assuming a reference battery-electric vehicle consumption rate of 19.1 kWh/100 km, the electricity delivered corresponds to approximately 2.34 million electric vehicle-kilometers. Equivalent travel distance by conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (referencing 8.0 L/100 km) would consume approximately 187,000 liters of gasoline and generate about 432 tonnes of CO₂. In contrast, electricity-related emissions from EV charging were estimated at approximately 10.7 tonnes of CO₂, based on Nepal's grid carbon intensity of 24 g CO₂/kWh. The net operational emission reduction is therefore estimated at 422 tonnes of CO₂ over the 12-month period. This study demonstrates how empirical charging station data can be integrated into impact assessments to quantify the climate benefits of transport electrification. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of establishing measurable environmental baselines and monitoring indicators for emerging green infrastructure. The proposed analytical framework offers a practical methodology that can be replicated across EV charging networks in Nepal and other hydropower-rich developing nations.
Vice President – Jalsrot Vikas Sanstha (Global Water Partnership, Nepal); Former Deputy Managing Director – Nepal Electricity Authority. M.Sc. in Power System Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.