Kathmandu to Pokhara by electric car: where to charge and how much range you need

Kathmandu to Pokhara is about 200 km by road, and an electric car with a 45–60 kWh battery can normally cover it on one charge with a margin. For a fast top-up on the way, NEA has chargers at Dharke (Dhading) and at Mugling, and several in Pokhara.

This guide uses distances from a Department of Roads study and an Asian Development Bank (ADB) project, and charger locations from NEA announcements reported in the news. We do not have an official, up-to-date list of every working charger on the route, so call ahead before relying on any one of them.

The route and its distances

The usual route leaves the valley at Nagdhunga, joins the Prithvi Highway at Naubise, follows the Trishuli river down to Mugling, then continues west to Pokhara.

The Department of Roads figures come from its 2020 impact assessment for widening the Nagdhunga–Naubise–Mugling road, which gives the section as 94.7 km. The Mugling–Pokhara figures come from the ADB loan for that road, as reported by The Himalayan Times. Add your drive across the valley to Nagdhunga; the same report put the whole Kathmandu–Pokhara trip at 200 km.

Down, then up again

1. Nagdhunga (0 km)
2. Naubise (12 km)
3. Mahadev Besi (23 km)
4. Galchhi (34 km)
5. Malekhu (56.5 km)
6. Benighat (62.5 km)
7. Kuringhat (86 km)
8. Mugling (94 km)

Elevation from Nagdhunga to Mugling (m)

Nagdhunga (0 km)	1,500 m
Naubise (12 km)	840 m
Mahadev Besi (23 km)	500 m
Galchhi (34 km)	428 m
Malekhu (56.5 km)	400 m
Benighat (62.5 km)	375 m
Kuringhat (86 km)	300 m
Mugling (94 km)	268 m

Source: Department of Roads, Nagdhunga–Naubise–Mugling road impact assessment (January 2020), Table 4-1

Leaving Kathmandu, the road drops about 1,232 m to Mugling, the lowest point of the Department of Roads section. An EV recovers some energy going downhill through regenerative braking, so the first half can use less battery than the distance suggests. The second half, from Mugling to Pokhara, climbs back up, and the return trip starts with the long climb from Mugling to Nagdhunga. Plan the way back more cautiously.

Where to charge on the way

NEA switched on 51 fast-charging stations across Nepal in September 2023. These are the ones on this route that news reports name:

At launch, Himal Press and myRepublica reported a 142 kW charger at each NEA station, with payment by QR code or mobile app. OnlineKhabar described the Kalika Fuel Centre stations as having 60 kW DC, 22 kW AC and two 142 kW fast chargers each. Himal Press also reported DC fast chargers installed in Pokhara by CG and BYD, without locations.

Two warnings. These reports are from 2023 and 2024, and stations can be out of service. In May 2026, The Kathmandu Post reported that chargers remain concentrated in big cities such as Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan, which makes long trips difficult. Check the NEA charging app or call before you rely on a stop.

How much battery do you need?

The honest answer depends on speed, load, air conditioning and the hills. So here is the arithmetic, with our assumptions shown.

Energy for 200 km at different consumption rates (kWh per 100 km, measured at the plug):

Our sums: 200 × 15 ÷ 100 = 30, then × 1.2 = 36, and so on. The 20% reserve is our own safety margin, not an official rule. A car's usable battery is often a little below the figure on the spec sheet.

Now compare with some popular EVs (official battery and WLTP range, indicative ex-showroom prices on the official sites, checked October 2026):

Kathmandu–Pokhara trip200 km

BYD Atto 1 Dynamic230 km

BYD Dolphin340 km

BYD Atto 3 Advance345 km

MG4 EV Comfort350 km

BYD Atto 3 Superior420 km

BYD Sealion 7440 km

Claimed WLTP range vs the 200 km trip (km)

Kathmandu–Pokhara trip	200 km
BYD Atto 1 Dynamic	230 km
BYD Dolphin	340 km
BYD Atto 3 Advance	345 km
MG4 EV Comfort	350 km
BYD Atto 3 Superior	420 km
BYD Sealion 7	440 km

Source: Official Nepal sites of Cimex (BYD) and MG Motor Nepal, checked October 2026; trip distance from ADB via The Himalayan Times

"Usually" is our judgement from the sums above, not a promise. WLTP is a laboratory test; see our glossary entry on WLTP. Your own car's trip computer is the best guide: note how many kilometres you get per 10% of battery on a normal highway drive before you set off.

What the trip costs in electricity

Charging at home before you leave. On NEA's domestic tariff, units above 250 a month cost Rs 11, and a 5% VAT on household use above 50 units was in force in September 2026 (The Kathmandu Post). At Rs 11.55 a unit, 36 kWh for the trip costs about Rs 416 (36 × 11.55).

Charging on the way. Public stations pay NEA a special tariff (Rs 4.30 to Rs 7.25 a unit depending on the time of day, according to NEA's 2025 tariff in the Electricity Regulatory Commission's July 2026 report), then add their own margin. The price you pay is shown on the charger or in the app. Our EV charging guide explains how public charging is priced. For your own car, try the charging cost calculator.

Check the road before you go

The Prithvi Highway is prone to landslides. Krishnabhir in Dhading, about 58 km from Naubise in the Department of Roads study, has had landslides for decades. In late August 2026 a landslide cut the road there. The Kathmandu Post reported that two-way traffic resumed on 17 September 2026, after 18 days, on a gravel track that the Department of Roads called a temporary solution. Several other stretches, including parts near Galchhi, Baireni and Malekhu, were still down to one lane.

A closure can force a long detour, so:

1. Check the road status with Traffic Police (103) or Nepal Police (100) before you leave, especially in the monsoon.
2. Leave home at 100%, so a detour or a queue is not a crisis.
3. Carry a backup plan: know where the next charger is beyond your planned stop.
4. Allow for queues at chargers during Dashain, Tihar and weekends.

Our monsoon driving tips cover the rest.

Quick checklist

Choosing a car with long trips in mind? Browse our electric car price list or put models side by side in the compare tool.