In distressful times with scarce fuel resources and having pollution riddled atmosphere, an electric-powered car can be an ideal choice for many Pakistanis owning vehicles being run on petrol, diesel or CNG. Presently, the biggest worry for any country is the reliance on fossil fuels to keep the transportation running. Decades of use of these vehicles have been making a negative impact on our environment while the ever-increasing fuel prices have exacerbated the situation. The modern world is turning to the use of electric vehicles (EVs). Pakistan, being one of the biggest victims of environmental degradation, has also started focusing on the use of electric vehicles, which is going to be the future mode of travelling. Keeping in view the future requirement, the government introduced its green policy for the electric vehicles about two years ago. The ambitious green policy has started bearing fruit and consumers have started turning to convert their vehicles’ fueling system to electric. The government’s green policy aims to put half a million electric motorcycles, rickshaws and 100,000 electric vehicles into the transportation system by 2025. However, consumer demand, market prices, availability of charging infrastructure, and affordability of batteries are major factors that are hindering the quick adoption of EVs.
These hurdles can be overcome with due course of time as advances in battery technology can become a tipping point at which electric-powered vehicles can become cheaper than any other type. With lower running costs, less maintenance and being better for the environment, these vehicles embody genuine hope for the future. Besides, this is a good news for the climate. So the age of electric cars is upon us.
At this juncture, government’s will can make a big difference. The government is already promoting the EVs’ industry and offering a lot of incentives to those investing in this sector. Many automakers have already been drawn to the EV sector in the country. There is a need to evolve related electricity charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and availability of affordable batteries. There is a need to set up centres to study better ways to make and recycle batteries.
