Pakistanis can convert their existing motorcycles to EVs in PKR 40,000

Electric vehicles are all the rage as the Pakistan government, as well as governments around the world, ramp up efforts to transition to cleaner and greener modes of transport.

However, it's not necessary to buy an electric motorcycle. Pakistani consumers can convert their existing motorcycles to electric vehicles (EVs) for as low as PKR 40,000, according to estimates received by Nukta.

If the government manages to encourage the establishment of a proper charging and battery swapping mechanism — which it plans to through a new regulation — these motorcycles can go completely petrol-free.

According to the estimates, a single battery charge consumes around three kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity, which costs PKR 180 at existing rates. If the same distance was covered by utilizing fuel, it would cost PKR 550 — a difference of PKR 370.

There are more than 30 million motorcycles in Pakistan, which consume more than $5 billion of petrol per year. If even one million of them are converted into EVs using 3kWh per charge, it would lead to an additional energy requirement of 60 megawatts. It would also save the country $165 million in fuel imports annually.

However, turning this into reality requires extensive government planning and support. And according to government sources, it is about to introduce Pakistan EV Charging and Battery Swapping Regulations soon.

Pakistan EV Charging and Battery Swapping Regulations

According to the draft, a copy of which is available with Nukta, the regulations aim to enhance adoption of electric vehicles and create an enabling environment for developing related infrastructure.

The focus will be on providing cost-effective tariffs for consumers and charging stations will be of five levels:

• Level 1: Slow charging (3.3 kWh) for residential use
• Level 2: Intermediate charging (up to 22 kWh) for commercial and public areas
• Level 3: Fast charging (50 kWh and above) for highways and public stations
• Level 4 and 5: Ultra-fast chargers (150-350 kWh) for high-traffic location

Moreover, as the title suggests, the regulations will also provide guidelines for setting up battery swapping stations, contributing to increased adoption of two- and three-wheeler EVs.

To incentivize investors to set up battery swapping stations, the approval process will be streamlined with existing petrol pumps being given clearance within 15 days and new setups within a month.

The regulations will also outline safety guidelines and compliance and inspection standards.