The EV Car Reality in Pakistan, Beyond the Hype

Electric Vehicles Are Being Hyped As The Future Of Transport In Pakistan Investing a PKR 10 Million plus on cars, like those offered by BYD, is sold as being petrol-free, new-tech loaded, feature-rich and eco-friendly. Yes, EVs cost nothing in petrol as completely electrically powered and on the face of it, this must be appealing.

But the real question is, are we getting the whole story?

Because 0 to 100 acceleration, intelligence features and modern design are all the talk right now.

Almost no one is discussing after-sales support. 

After-sales is not just a word, it represents availability of service, trained engineers, parts and diagnostics that keep you worry free from ownership in the long term. The EV ecosystem is still in its infancy in Pakistan. They have very few trained mechanics, little mechanical experience and hardly any local solutions for major things going wrong.

There are major concerns about replacing batteries. EV batteries can run up to PKR 30 Lac or more. This is not a small cost, and it turns the long-term cost equation around. 

Integrity is also critical for the environmental storyline. Although EVs are marketed as having zero emissions, emissions actually change rather than go away. Significant emissions are produced during the production process of lithium batteries. Promotions that are flashy do not address these harmful chemicals. It is deceptive to refer to EVs as entirely green without taking manufacturing impact into consideration.

Another aspect that is neglected is safety. Fires from lithium batteries are quite deadly. There is hardly adequate infrastructure for tackling fires caused by lithium batteries in Pakistan. These fires need specialist cooling, frequently with a lot of water, and cannot be put out with conventional extinguishers. The conversation gets even more serious when you consider this risk in light of Pakistan's climate, where summer temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius or more.

Infrastructure for charging is another important issue. Does Pakistan now have an appropriate national network of EV charging stations? In actuality, no. There are few, uneven, and non-standard charging stations. The electricity needed to charge EVs is mostly generated indirectly from fossil fuels like coal, gas, and furnace oil, even if the number of charging stations increases. This indicates that the fuel-based energy source has simply moved away from the vehicle.

Additionally, charging takes longer than filling up with gas. It requires preparation, time, and a dependable power source. In Pakistan, power outages, voltage problems, and load shedding are commonplace. Although they are rarely mentioned in advertising, these elements have a direct impact on EV ownership in the real world.

NOTE:

This blog is crafted with complete honesty. There are no sponsored posts, no favoritism towards brands, just the truth. I could take opportunities to endorse products, but misleading the public conflicts with ethical obligations to society. The aim is not to oppose technology, but to critically assess whether the market, infrastructure, and awareness in Pakistan are genuinely prepared. Instead of blindly adhering to global trends, we must pose difficult questions. What are the true costs? What is the actual impact? And who stands to gain from this?