ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin AslamThursday said Karachi based automobile manufacturers had developedsuccessful Electric Vehicle (EV) conversion kits that would help thecountry save $2 billion in oil import bills.
The adviser was addressing a press conference along with Pakistan ElectricVehicles and Parts Manufacturers and Traders Association (PEVPMTA) membershere.
He said: “Electric Vehicle Policy is going to boost battery manufacturingindustry in the country as the charged vehicles completely run on lithiumbatteries. China is manufacturing 90 percent of the world’s technologycomprising lithium on batteries and Pakistan will definitely benefit fromtheir experience in this regard.”
Amin told that during his recent visit to Karachi it was encouraging toknow that the auto-manufacturers had successfully developed conversion kitsfor fuel run vehicles. “A motorcycle can be converted for Rs 20,000 to Rs35,000 and the price for retrofitting of three wheeler rickshaws and carsvaries from vehicle to vehicle,” he added.
The adviser highlighted that there were four main reasons behind adoptingthe electric vehicle policy that had been approved by the federal cabinet.
“First, transport emissions comprise 40 percent of our total air pollutionwhere electric vehicles are going to reduce it to 70 percent. Second,electric vehicles are going to provide cheap transport as its expenditurecost will be 30 percent less than fuel based automobiles. Third, Pakistan’simport is largely occupied by oil bill as successful conversion on electricvehicles would help the country save US$ 2 billion and lastly, electricvehicles are going to bring a new revolution for eco-friendly industrialdevelopment which is necessary for the country to beat climate change,” hesaid.
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Amin said the government’s aim was to get 500,000 rickshaws and motorbikesto be converted on electric vehicles including 100,000 cars in the nextfour years.
He said: “I have discussed with the Japanese Ambassador to collaborate withPakistan for electric vehicle conversion whereas Japan has vowed to assistus with Honda and Suzuki to shift on electric vehicles. In India, Suzukiand Honda have jointly developed first electric vehicle which is anencouraging precedent for Pakistan to take advantage from these leadingcompanies.”
The adviser said: “We are negotiating to convert 250 buses on electrictechnology where 100 buses under Karachi Metro would have conversion onelectric batteries where BRT Peshawar would get electric hybrid cars.”
Electric Vehicle policy would help in establishing electric motorbike andrickshaw manufacturing industries as in Lahore a prototype model oftwo-wheeler electric motorbike had been developed successfully. “Our aim isto convert 30 percent of the total transport over electric vehicles by2030,” said Malik Amin Aslam.
