In contrast to the gloom and doom environment that we have been given by the media and the greedy, self-centered, power brokers Kunda Dixit's story about the MiniEV ('Clean & Green & Electric, #290) has given me great hope. If we are allowed to live our lives-our way, this is surely the future for us in transport. With the utter failure in the management and development of hydroelectricity and the total chaos in the political scene, I was afraid that Nepal would be left high and dry with the polluting hulks of vehicles as fuel becomes unaffordable in the next few years. Thanks to Hulas Motors, KEVA, SDC and USAID Nepal will still be moving on wheels for some time. These innovations will not only reduce pollution and save the environment but will keep our money in the country and provide jobs. What has to be done now is to set a time table to push out the polluting vehicles owned and run by mafia for the general public and for INGOs to give up their gas guzzling SUVs and switch to Mini-Evs in the cities. Maybe Hulas and KEVA could also turn the 7,500 Maruti taxis in Kathmandu to hybrid vehicles by fitting a similar system as the Mini-EV in the rear axle.

Rajendra Khadga,
Lajimpat