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SAFA-Tempo


The one thing our capital, Kathmandu has not been able to get rid of is pollution. It has been a major issue since a very long time. Instead of taking measures to reduce the heavy pollution, it has only been increasing day by day and  has given the capital a new name dhulo-mandu. Increased use of diesel engines seem to be the major cause of  air pollution. However  industrialization, urbanization and the congested roads are also the causes of air pollution.

In Kathmandu valley, electric vehicles have proven to be the most suitable and convenient means of transportation to combat the air and dust pollution. From the mid seventies, the use of electric engines started, introducing Trolley bus as the first electric vehicle. Continuing the practice of electric vehicles, in 1996 a group of Nepali professionals and entrepreneurs introduced 7 Safa-Tempos and started an electric vehicle company for the first time in Nepal.

Safa-Tempos are the most popular electric vehicles used mostly in the Kathmandu valley today. Currently there are more than 600 safa tempos in the valley. Around 120,000 passengers benefit from the service provided by the safa tempo in 17 different routes within the city on a daily basis. Kathmandu perhaps has more number of battery powered commuter electric vehicles than any other urban centres in the world.


It is the only vehicle that has equal no of female and male drivers. The drivers get around Rs. 4000 to Rs. 5000 per month. The tempo owners need Rs 6000 to Rs. 7000 per month for charging and Rs 10,000 per month for depreciation of batteries. When the batteries are new, the SAFA Tempos can get a range of 70 or more kms. But, due to the aging, the capacity of the battery is reduced and the SAFA Tempo can cover only about 55 kms. Many owners cannot afford to buy new batteries and the suppliers are giving a warranty period of only 6 months. It is said that about 50 to 60 SAFA tempos are grounded, since the owners cannot afford to buy new batteries.                                                                                                                                                                                       

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