Lok Sujag: Arsalan Haider – Can EV solve Pakistan’s economic and environmental problems

Article by Arsalan Haider, for Lok Sujag. Please read full story at: (Image owned by Lok sujag)

https://loksujag.com/story/prospects-and-problems-of-introducing-electric-vehicles-in-pakistan

Pakistan’s National Electric Vehicle Policy, formulated in 2019, acknowledges the need for a charging infrastructure but no visible progress has been made in its implementation. There is a dilemma of whether to establish the infrastructure first or wait until there are enough electric vehicles on the road. Dr. Aazir Anwar Khan, a researcher at the University of Lahore, argues that the infrastructure should be built first, with the government bearing the cost. He estimates the cost of establishing charging stations for 418 electric vehicles across Pakistan to be around $4.4 million, which would be recovered within seven years through savings in fuel costs.

Electric vehicles in Pakistan face reluctance due to their higher cost compared to traditional vehicles and concerns about range anxiety. However, there are financial benefits to adopting electric vehicles. Electric vehicles can help reduce Pakistan’s trade deficit, primarily caused by petroleum imports, and eliminate or reduce capacity payments made to private electricity generation plants for excess capacity. Electric vehicles also offer environmental benefits by reducing emissions and healthcare costs associated with pollution.

The National Electric Vehicles Policy in Pakistan aims for 30% of new cars and 50% of new motorcycles, rickshaws, and trucks to be electric by 2030. However, concerns remain regarding the lack of a concrete plan, quality standards, and market regulation for electric vehicles. The policy does not specify the type of electricity to be used, with experts suggesting the promotion of renewable sources such as wind and solar power. However, the government’s electricity production mix still heavily relies on fossil fuels, limiting the environmental impact reduction of electric vehicles.

Dr. Irfan Yousuf, an advisor at the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), emphasizes the need to synchronize the promotion of electric vehicles with the increased production of electricity from renewable sources to effectively reduce emissions from the transportation sector.