Nestled in the Himalayas, the Kingdom of Bhutan has a distinctive commitment towards sustainability and environmental conservation guided by the mandates of its supreme constitution and the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH). The foundation of Bhutan's commitment to environmental conservation is built through strong policy enactments in conservation, waste management, and energy practices. Despite efforts to utilize clean and sustainable energy sources, Bhutan still heavily relies on non-renewable energy sources such as coal and its derivatives, biomass, and petroleum products, accounting for 62.4% of its energy share, with electricity from hydropower, wind, and solar energy accounting for 37.6%.
Although the government has promoted EV adoption through policies and initiatives like the "Low Emission Development Strategy" and the "EV Roadmap 2035," the transport sector remains a significant consumer of energy, amounting to over 108,768.10 KOE (14.4% of the total energy consumed in the country). This is because vehicle sales rose by CAGR of 6.7% from 75,190 in 2014 to 126,650 in 2023. However, only 0.36% of these vehicles are electric, with the remaining conventional fuel cars accounting for 60.01% of the country's carbon dioxide emissions. As a result, there is a need for a thorough evaluation of Bhutanese perceptions of electric vehicles (EVs) and the government's initiatives for broader EV adoption in the country.
This paper delves into understanding the Bhutanese perspective on EVs, including factors such as price, performance, availability of charging facilities, environmental concerns, and government incentives. This assessment is based on recently conducted quantitative studies. Some reasons for limited EV adoption include high upfront costs, range anxiety, and a lack of sufficient standardized charging facilities, though people acknowledge the benefits of government incentives and subsidies. This study can serve as a mini-guide for policymakers, highlighting the importance of government interventions toward sustainability goals and the trajectory of EV perception among the Bhutanese people to achieve the "2035 EV Roadmap," which aims to have 70% of vehicle sales be EVs by 2035.