Senate panel says 3,000 EV charging stations by 2030 is not enough

A Senate committee has questioned whether the government's plan for electric vehicle charging goes far enough. The Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production reviewed the EV plan on Friday 3 July, and Arab News reported on the discussion the next day.

The plan aims for 3,000 charging stations by 2030, with about 2.2 million EVs on the road and electric models making up 30 per cent of new vehicle sales by the end of the decade. Arab News reported that more than 72 licences for charging stations have already been issued.

Senator Khalida Ateeb, who chaired the meeting, told the newspaper the number was too small. "We believe that the number is insufficient when we want to move to EVs to save energy," she said. Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said Karachi alone would need 4,000 to 5,000 stations. He described his own trouble finding chargers while travelling and asked for the network to reach remote areas.

Pakistan has an estimated 31 to 33 million registered vehicles, and the transport sector still depends heavily on imported petroleum. Arab News reported that more than 12,800 electric cars and about 160,000 electric motorcycles have been made locally.

Bikes and rickshaws first

The industries ministry pointed to two and three wheelers as the quickest route. According to the report, a Rs9 billion subsidy offers Rs80,000 for each electric bike. The Secretary of Industries and Production said in an official statement that electric motorcycles with batteries of 3 to 7 kilowatts can charge from a standard 220 volt supply. That matters because many riders could charge at home or at a shop without a public charger.

Ateeb also argued for smaller and cheaper cars rather than large luxury models. She said a special subcommittee has been formed to look at the hurdles the EV sector faces. Arab News added that Chinese carmaker BYD has announced plans to assemble vehicles in Pakistan.

Reported from coverage in Arab News.