In Pakistan, the first electric commercial vehicle (ECV) was introduced by a private company in collaboration with Tesla Industries. An 11-seater minibus and a freight truck capable of transporting up to a tonne were presented in a ceremony, according to a story in the leading daily.
There was also a solar charging station and AC chargers for ECVs on show. The company’s top executives emphasized during the ceremony that electric vehicles are critical in the wake of growing gasoline prices and major increases in air pollution.
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At a ceremony held here on Tuesday, an 11-seater minibus and a cargo van with a one-ton load capacity, solar charging station and AC chargers were exhibited. Addressing the ceremony, Sitara Chemicals CEO Mian Muhammad Idris, Sira Engineers CEO Naazul Haq and Tesla Industries CEO Amir Hussain said the rising fuel price hike and pollution necessitated the use of electric vehicles. They said the ECV cost per kilometre was up to Rs 3.5 per kilometre. Initially, these ECMs are being imported from China, but their assembly would start in Pakistan in a year or two.
The average cost of these vehicles will be around Rs 3.5 per kilometer
These vehicles are initially being imported from China, but their assembly will start in the South Asian country in a year or two.
Earlier, the premier called for the gradual replacement of vehicles with electric vehicles. Meanwhile, the government announced a new Auto Industry Development and Export Policy (AIDEP 2021-26) under which sales tax on local electric vehicles (EVs) has been slashed.
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The new policy aims to promote small cars, localisation, incentivize the introduction of new products in tractors and motorcycles, consumer protection, and promote new technologies.