Stakeholders have urged the government to stop forcing consumers to buy electric vehicles with substandard and unreliable batteries in the guise of the latest technology.
“Despite the subsidy, consumers still have to pay a considerable amount to buy an electric vehicle. The government should not force consumers to buy vehicles with substandard batteries.” Director General PAMA Abdul Waheed Khan stated this on Wednesday.
He revealed over 90 per cent of electric bikes in Pakistan have lead acid batteries with a single graphene coating.
Khan said that the consumers will never opt for any EV when vehicles with poor-quality batteries shatter their confidence. He said that the prevailing scenario will undo all the government efforts to promote electric vehicles.
PAVE:
The government has launched the Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) program 2025-30. NEV levy of up to 3 percent on ICE vehicles will enable the government to offer subsidies worth Rs. 122 billion across the automotive spectrum. One of the preconditions, among others, includes: Only electric vehicles with Lithium or advanced battery technologies will qualify for the scheme.
Globally, people considered Lithium-ion batteries for their superior technology and quality. They offer longer life span, faster charging time, high energy storage, greater efficiency. And longer range, thus offering far better value for money in the long run.
The majority of electric two-wheelers in Pakistan are equipped with graphene-coated lead-acid batteries, Mr Khan said, adding that no manufacturer is offering warranties beyond 24 months for these batteries, whereas lithium batteries are usually provided with a five-year warranty or more.
He said that vested interests are distorting production and sales figures of two and three-wheeler vehicles produced in different leading world markets. He said that the International Energy Agency’s Global EV Outlook 2025 report was contradictory to their claims.
According to the report, China led with recording sales of 7 million electric two-wheelers, followed by India with 1.3 million, Vietnam with 250,000, and Indonesia with 105,000 units.
He appealed to the government not to bow down to such gimmicks and ensure that national resources are being spent on proven and safe technology batteries only.
