Prospects of Electric Vehicles in Pakistan

Abstract

The global transport sector is undergoing a massive change. The traditional fuel based vehicles that dominated the world since their inception in early 20th century are being replaced by battery electric vehicles. This shift seems poised to upend not just the future of automotive industry but also impact economies and societies all across the world. Developing countries in particular are set to be uniquely affected by this change as their transport systems are in a stage of rapid growth and expansion. Additionally, the wide ranging economic, environmental, and industrial implications of this shift place it as a source of unprecedented opportunities and challenges for all concerned entities. Thus, it is critically important that a comprehensive analysis of the various aspects of EVs be carried out to determine their practicality against individual state or social contexts. This paper aims to analyze the general details of emerging EVs against the backdrop of unique economic, energy, environmental, and industrial conditions of Pakistan to determine the feasibility of their introduction. A struggling economy, deteriorating environmental conditions, stressed power sector, and a massive untapped automobile market are some of the characteristics that are unique to Pakistan. In this paper, these realities will be explored in detail to assess whether Pakistan stands to benefit from this revolution or not – and if so, to what extent. Finally, proposals shall be made for Pakistan to best approach this technology and maximize national benefits with respect to its unique economic & environmental particulars.