Electric bikes are gaining traction

KARACHI:

Electric bike assemblers and dealers in Pakistan are trying to make electric two-wheelers more attractive than the old 70cc petrol versions, with the ultimate goal of replacing internal combustion engines in a few years. However, questions about the viability of these e-bikes remain due to the lack of proper infrastructure in both urban and rural areas.

While electric bikes are gaining popularity in countries such as India, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia due to rising fuel costs and environmental concerns, Pakistan faces unique challenges that prevent widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Muhammad Sabir Sheikh, Chief Coordinator of Electric Two Wheelers Manufacturing Group-Pakistan, who is also an EV bike dealer in Karachi, highlighted the obstacles in Pakistan. “EV bikes are less of a trend here due to issues such as the risk of investing in a new sector, lack of dealer interest, high mark-up rates, a volatile US dollar and more,” he explained. However, he remains optimistic about the future of electric bikes in Pakistan, predicting that they will replace traditional fuel-guzzling motorcycles within a few years.

Sheikh noted that the introduction of high-end electric bikes in the local market in the past six months has prompted buyers to be cautious about factors such as quality, speed, battery charging and infrastructure. However, they are gradually becoming more comfortable with these electric two-wheelers. Brands such as Evee, Metro, Yadea, Winner and Crown have gained popularity by offering bikes that can travel from 70km to 125km on a full charge using a 72V graphene battery.

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Business head of a Lahore-based electric bike assembly company, Hamza Asad highlighted the transformational potential of electric two-wheelers in Pakistan. “We introduced three variants of EV bikes with advanced features including anti-theft alarms, safety switches and tubeless tires,” he said. He shared a success story of a customer who bought an electric bike for Rs 230,000 two months ago, used it for 400 km and then sold it for Rs 235,000 to upgrade to a newer model. The company provides a two-year motor warranty, a one-year battery warranty and offers 100% replacement for defective accessories. Demand for these electric bikes, priced between Rs 200,000 to Rs 300,000, is on the rise and the company is struggling to keep up with the orders.

However, Abdul Rehman Aizaz, President of the Pakistan Association of Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM), believes that it will take two to three decades for electric bikes to gain a significant foothold in Pakistan. He pointed out several issues, such as the lack of adequate infrastructure in urban and rural areas, the challenge of disposing of used lithium-ion batteries, high charging rates for electricity, frequent power outages in rural areas, and the relatively high prices of electric bicycles.

Aizaz also urged the government to formulate a comprehensive policy on electric vehicles, paralleling the huge private investments made to set up CNG stations about a decade ago. He warned that if a poor person invests in an electric bike today without knowing possible policy changes in the future, it could result in a significant loss of investment.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^u2023.

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