Let’s be real: battery electric vehicles (BEVs) or simply unadulterated electric vehicles (EVs) are advertised up all over, on account of Tesla and the Chinese EV brands. People are talking about how they will change car ownership, how they will save the environment, and how they will be the future. However, here is our burning concern: Are we chasing a dream that is too big for us right now, or is Pakistan even prepared for electric vehicles?
Yes, online, BEVs and EVs sound fantastic. They don’t use fossil fuels, they’re said to be better for the environment because they don’t have tailpipe emissions, and most companies that make electric vehicles say that customers will save money in the long run. However, here’s some reality: Consider the number of charging stations you’ve seen in your city. Can an electric vehicle be driven from Karachi to Islamabad without having to worry about where to charge it? Despite the fact that Pakistan has virtually no infrastructure, it would appear that we are discussing a EV revolution.
People are being sold this “green future” by car manufacturers without a lot of places to charge their vehicles. It’s like getting a shiny new toy that we can’t even properly use.
Given the lack of infrastructure, high costs, and unstable electricity supplies, Pakistan’s urgency to adopt EVs is unrealistic. Hybrids versus pure EVs: the real debate Currently, some may contend that hybrids, also known as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, are a better option for Pakistan. Because they run on both gasoline and electricity, you won’t be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a dead battery. But here is the kicker: half and halves actually consume petroleum products, particularly on thruways; These are just regular cars that run on gasoline. It should be viewed as whether they truly assist us with getting off imported oil or simply go about as a bandage arrangement that encourages us.
In contrast, pure EVs operate entirely on electricity, of which 59% still comes from fossil fuels in Pakistan. Therefore, we aren’t really being as eco-friendly as we think. The issue is simply shifting from automobile engines to imported coal- and furnace-oil-fueled power plants.
The issue of money: obtaining an EV’s financial support While we all long for a greener, more sustainable future, it’s important to think about how many Pakistanis can actually afford an EV. EVs are expensive. These cars are still completely built-up and out of reach for most consumers, even with government incentives. As a result, we’ve come up with a solution that only benefits the wealthy and leaves the rest of us with gas-guzzling cars.
What’s more, we should not fail to remember the forthright expense versus the drawn out reserve funds contention. In the long run, electric vehicles are cheaper to run, but only if you can afford to buy one. In point of fact, purchasing a Rs15 million Deepal S07 pure electric vehicle when you can purchase a similar-sized sister brand Oshan X7 Euro 6 gasoline for less than Rs9 million makes no sense.
The energy emergency: considering grid capability Another issue that no one seems to be discussing is: The energy crisis in Pakistan. According to the Pakistan Economic Survey for 2023–2024, our total electricity production from July to March FY24 was 92,000 GWh, but our consumption was only 68,500 GWh due to inadequate transmission lines. Accordingly, we face standard blackouts and an inconsistent network, and presently we’re looking at adding great many EVs to the interest.
