Launch of electric vehicles impel financial stability in Pakistan.

Byline: Ahsan Nisar

The much debated Electric Vehicle Policy will be integrated as a part of Auto Development Policy (ADP 2016-2021), which would comprise of investment plans, standardization of equipment, the promotion of localization, generating exports in the long run to have a positive impact on the national economy. But the EV policy seems to have more problems than solutions and agreements. The uncertainty of the policy is also making the investors of ADP 2016-2021 take a backseat. Meanwhile, the auto sector faces recession each day as the policy gets delayed.

The Ministry of Climate Change is putting in its best efforts to promote electric vehicles in Pakistan to help protect natural environment, but it is yet to come up with concrete policies to translate this dream into reality. According to the data, the federal cabinet approved first-ever national Electric Vehicles (EV) policy with an aim to tackle negative impacts of climate change and offer affordable transport to the common people. The government has set the target to transform 3,000 CNG stations to EV charging stations and convert 100,000 cars and 500,000 bikes and rickshaws to EVs in next 4 years.

The charging stations for EVs will require electricity that will be through distribution companies only. The issue is that high concentration of EV home charging during peak hours/periods would overload local power transformers. There are also some more questions including whether battery powered EVs would be competitive with conventional fueled vehicles in next five to ten years and how and when cost-effective charging infrastructure would be developed in the country. Since carbon emissions from motor vehicles is considered one of the largest contributors to air pollution therefore the government is working hard to introduce culture of electric vehicles everywhere in the country. In this connection, this scribe found following two developments worth mentioning:

Sazgar launches Pakistan's first battery operated ev three-wheeler

Sazgar Engineering Works Limited is a well-known name in automobile industry of Pakistan. Recently, they have launched EV-three-wheeler which will help to...