There is good news for the prospective electric three-wheeler (safa tempo) buyers who have been threatened by the arrival of microbuses. The price of electric tempos may come down by 30,000 because of the reduction in cost of locally-manufactured chassis.

According to a Martin Chautari bulletin, Indian-made chassis currently in use cost Rs 150,000, and locally made ones will cost Rs 120,000. Safa tempos cost Rs 530,000, and this price has remained the same since they went into production in 1995,

The Biratnagar-based Hulas Motor Company is now manufacturing the three-wheeler chassis, making it unnecessary to import them from Scooters India, Kangchenjunga Auto Industry has also begun making chassis locally.

Electric Vehicle Company (EVCO) has already produced two electric tempos using the Hulas chassis, and Pushpa Pokharel of EVCO says the Hulas chassis is as good as Indian chassis.

Safa tempo assembly is becoming more and more indigenised, with chassis, electric vehicle battery charger and forward-reverse switch all manufactured locally. Electric vehicle manufacturers claim that even DC-DC converter and the "Pot box" can now be manufactured locally.