Mr. Soham Dhakal is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Vianet Communications, a company that provides internet services and connections to businesses and individuals. With plenty of experience in the Business and IT sector, Mr Dhakal is also an Electric Vehicle (EV) enthusiast. He shares his experiences with the All-New BYD e6 as well as his thoughts on how EVs can help improve our environment while also making our lives easier!

Why did you decide on getting an EV?

My EV journey started 4 years ago when I first purchased an electric scooter. My brother had bought an EV 2-3 years ago while I was waiting for a good electric vehicle that wouldn’t give me range anxiety, and is convenient even for long-distance travel. Unlike traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, EVs consume electricity generated in our own country so you can save money on fuel costs by driving an EV. Also, since EVs do not produce carbon emissions or other harmful gases, they are considered much better for air quality and general health!

Have you travelled out of the valley with your BYD e6?

Yes, I have. I travelled to Chitwan twice and once to Pokhara with the new BYD e6. While driving to Chitwan, it was one of the best driving experiences on the highway I have had to date. I simply loved how easy it was to overtake on the highway. On top of that, the ease of handling, and the automatic transmission made the drive much easier.

My brother recently took my BYD e6 to a resort located on the outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley, the road to the resort was quite steep and uphill, but he reached there easily. And quite recently as well, I went to Terrace Resort at Lakuri Bhanjhyang. The road was steep uphill and had off-road conditions yet the ride was smooth and easy.

My brother recently took my BYD e6 to a resort located on the outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley, the road to the resort was quite steep and uphill, but he reached there easily. And quite recently as well, I went to Terrace Resort at Lakuri Bhanjhyang. The road was steep uphill and had off-road conditions yet the ride was smooth and easy.

Why did you choose the all-new BYD e6?

One of the key reasons I chose the new BYD e6 was the Blade Battery, which has been engineered by research and development by BYD to be safer than traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. It also comes with a longer battery life cycle of over 4000 cycles—an important factor for me when choosing an EV vehicle. I mostly charge the car at my home so it is very convenient for me. Also, when I am travelling outside the valley, I am quite relaxed because BYD has conveniently placed charging stations across the nation.

What do you like most about the All-New BYD e6?

I absolutely love two things about the new BYD e6: range and handling.

The new e6 has a range of 500+ km, which means I no longer have “range anxiety” when I’m driving around town. I can now travel to my everyday destinations and even outside the valley without any worries!

The other thing is handling—although the vehicle is big in size, I haven’t had any problem driving it even on the small roads of Kathmandu or manoeuvring through tight corners.

What are your suggestions to people who are looking to buy an EV?

If you’re thinking about buying an electric vehicle, you’re probably wondering how much it will cost. The short answer is: it depends. There are a few things to consider.

First: what’s your commute? You’ll want to know how far you drive every day, so you can figure out if an EV is right for you—and how much it will cost to charge.

Second: Total Cost of Ownership. This includes maintenance costs and fuel costs (or lack thereof). An EV will save you money in both of these areas over time—but only if it makes sense financially for your situation.

Finally: Think about the return on investment. How long will it take for your EV to pay for itself compared with other cars? You will feel the instant change after you start driving an EV, the experience: its feel, quietness, low maintenance, it saves you a lot of money. This experience is what I love about owning the All-New BYD e6. Additionally, it is convenient, unlike the ICE vehicles I can just charge it at my home and drive 500 km easily.