Islamabad: With petrol prices painfully high, many Pakistanis are searching for fuel-efficient vehicle alternatives. Some are taking a leap of faith and transitioning to electric motorcycles.
Suleman Javed, a resident of Rawalpindi, says he is looking to buy an electric motorbike so he doesn’t need to worry about rising petrol prices.
“One of my friends recently bought an electric bike. He’s happy with the decision and is saving a good amount. And now I am planning to buy one too”.
When people talk about electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States, Europe and China, they generally mean electric cars. But in Pakistan, EV adoption is taking place on two-wheelers for now. There are more than 26 million motorcycles and scooters in Pakistan where automakers sell over 2 million bikes a year. The number of electric motorbikes and scooters is approximately 18,000.
Motorcycles, locally referred to as “bikes”, are a cheaper option for Pakistanis to manoeuvre through congested traffic. An estimated 53 per cent of Pakistani households own two-wheelers considered an indispensable part of the transport system. For years, Honda 70cc to Yamaha 125 has been the transport of choice for the vast majority. But cleaner and cost-effective change is finally arriving.
Evee on a mission
Evee, a Pakistani electric scooter company, is on a mission to spark a mass-market transition to electric mobility by introducing sleek and stylish scooters that cost less to buy and maintain. The Lahore-based company recently unveiled its flagship product, Evee C1 electric scooter.
“Our goal is to provide innovative, affordable, and eco-friendly transportation solutions to Pakistani consumers while addressing the challenges of rising petrol prices and environmental pollution,” Saad Farrukh, Evee Electric director, told Gulf News. Evee C1 e-scooters are completely knocked down (CKD) units, shipped in parts from China and assembled in Pakistan but the company aims to reach 25 per cent localisation by mid-2023 and 50 per cent by the end of this year.
With a 1200-watt motor, Evee C1 is designed with a focus on safety, using dry batteries, with plans to integrate lithium-ion batteries in advanced models in the future. With a top speed of 55km per hour, it has a range of 60km on a single charge and takes 4 to 5 hours to charge fully, explained Hamza Asad, the business head at Evee Electric. With C1 starting at Rs175,000, the company aims to make sustainable transportation more accessible to Pakistani consumers, Hamza. With the average base electricity tariff in Pakistan currently at Rs24 per unit, a full charge consumes 5 units or costs just about Rs120.
Evee C1 electric scooters come in vibrant colours like ruby red, ivory white, and midnight blue, and have highly practical features that may also help increase women’s readership in Pakistan where motorbike riders are mostly men. The company aims to educate buyers on the safe use and features of e-scooters which require low maintenance and have a smaller environmental impact than gas-powered vehicles.
The charging mechanism is simple. “You just have to charge it like a phone or laptop,” says Farrukh. Evee aims to capture the electric scooter market and hopes that by 2023, 10 per cent of the market share will be taken by e-motorbikes and e-scooters, and by 2025, 50 per cent of bikes will be electric in Pakistan.
Farrukh, a businessman with a background in the automotive parts industry, says the company’s key strength is its “young and passionate team, with an average age of 31”. Evee is open to partnerships with city governments and organisations to expand its reach and impact.
Immense potential for EV growth
Pakistan’s first EV company Jolta Electric has sold over 10,000 motorbikes since its launch in July 2021. Dr Muhammad Amjad, CEO of Jolta Electric, spoke to Gulf News about the potential for growth in the electric motorcycle market in Pakistan. The industry is still in its early stages of development but there is “immense potential” he says.
“With raising petrol prices, electric bikes could be the right product that the country needs as a cheaper and efficient mode of transport for short to medium-length journeys.” However, he also highlighted the challenges faced by manufacturers such as the lack of a solid policy for the import and clearance of raw materials imported from China and other countries and the need for government incentives and subsidies for electric vehicle manufacturers in Pakistan.
The Jolta bikes resemble the classic red-coloured gasoline-powered vehicles Honda bikes, commonly seen on roads in Pakistan. Jolta offers a range of electric bikes and scooters with a price range between Rs135,000 and Rs249,000 ($500 to $800). The top-selling model JE70D (special edition), priced at Rs135,000, has a dry EV battery that can be charged overnight and covers 80km in eco mode with a top speed of 55km per hour.
In comparison, the market leader, the petrol-driven Japanese Honda 70cc bike, is priced at Rs128,000. Jolta’s JE70L, with a lithium battery, can be charged within 2.5 hours, has a top speed of 60km per hour and can cover 80km on one charge. The Jolta scooty models, priced at Rs145,000 with a dry battery and Rs185,000 with a lithium battery, are more popular among women due to their ease of use. Jolta Electric has plans to expand its reach both within Pakistan and internationally and is closely monitoring the Middle East and European markets for exports after “fully localizing manufacturing unit in Pakistan”.
Batteries
Electric motorcycles can run on either dry or lithium batteries, but most modern bikes use lithium-ion batteries because of their high energy density, lightweight, and long lifespan. “Lithium batteries are more efficient and offer better performance, but they come at a higher price” while dry batteries are gradually fading out in the global EV market, says Amjad.
Modern bikes with security system
EV bike company Vlektra offers stunning and modern design motorbikes that are slightly more expensive than their competitors. The Karachi-based EV company solely relies on powerful lithium-ion batteries for their bikes. Vlektra electric motorbikes are equipped with a remote start system and a security alarm system — a unique feature for bikes in Pakistan. The Vlektra Retro base variant, which has a 1500-watt motor and 4-hour charging time, starts at Rs299,000. The top variant Retro 1969 electric motorcycle is available at Rs449,000 and boasts a powerful 2000W electric motor.
With a top speed of 60kph in under 4 seconds, owners can enjoy a thrilling ride. The bike has a range of 80-100km on a single charge and costs just about Rs50 to fully charge. The company says that if a person travels 50km every day, pays Rs250 for a litre of petrol, and spends Rs3,000 a month on maintenance, the cost of using a Vlektra motorbike will be 93 per cent cheaper than a regular petrol bike. This means an annual savings of Rs155,622.
EV bikes in Pakistan
Electric two-wheelers are hugely popular in Asian cities, especially in China, India and Vietnam, where some models are cost-competitive with their gasoline counterparts. While sales of e-motorbikes in Pakistan have been steadily increasing over the years, it still accounts for only a small portion of the overall bike market. This is expected to change dramatically in the coming decade with the introduction of new and more powerful models from bike makers like Evee, Vlektra, Jolta, MS Jaguar, and others.
Cost savings are a critical factor in the adoption of electric motorbikes, with speed, coverage distance, charging duration, and cost being among other key factors that people consider before buying. Other benefits include zero emissions, quiet and smooth rides, low maintenance, instant torque, connectivity, convenient charging, regenerative braking and lightweight designs.
Who is it not suitable for? There are certain factors that may make electric motorcycles less suitable for some people. Bilal Ranjha, a YouTube bike reviewer, says “people who frequently travel long distances or need to carry heavy loads may find electric motorcycles less practical.”
Similarly, people who do not have access to reliable charging infrastructure, either at home or along their regular commute, may find that inconvenient. Ranjha also pointed out that e-bikes are “not suitable for rough and uneven roads in rural areas.”
Pakistan’s EV policy
Pakistan launched its National Electric Vehicles Policy (NEVP) in 2019 to increase the use of EVs in the country by providing incentives. The policy targets 30 per cent of all passenger vehicles and heavy-duty trucks, as well as 50 per cent of two and three-wheelers and buses, to be electrified by 2030, with the goal rising to 90 per cent by 2040. It also offers tax incentives and lower customs duties for EV manufacturers, assemblers and suppliers, as well as financing options for consumers.
Pakistan’s ministry of industries plans to launch an electric bike scheme to produce 100,000 e-motorbikes in the next 18 months with a proposed subsidy of Rs17.5 billion over three years with plans to install EV chargers at select stations, workplaces, and universities.
The demand for EVs and incentives has created new opportunities for manufacturers and suppliers. Incentives for local manufacturing include a 1 per cent customs duty and 1% sales tax. The number of EV motorbikes and scooters is set to increase from the current 18,000 as nearly 22 companies have been issued EV manufacturing licenses. The government is also exploring the possibility of converting motorcycles that run on combustion engines into electric vehicles.
Future of EV bikes in Pakistan
Rising petrol prices are a catalyst in changing transportation habits and reducing reliance on gas-powered vehicles. Manufacturers say they are witnessing “increasing interest” in electric motorbikes every day and hoping the sales will boom too. Industry experts say that the shift to e-motorbikes will be a gradual process in Pakistan with increasing awareness.
A small home-based business owner, Maham Abbasi, who earns around Rs140,000 ($515) per month, says she is ready to pay for a modern scooter. “I would not have to worry about rising prices again. And, I will spend less on the maintenance and operating costs of my bike.” Bike riders already know that gas motorcycles frequently require tinkering and maintenance.
Pakistan is moving towards vehicle electrification but the prices of electric motorcycles currently remain more expensive than their petrol-powered counterparts for most people. The EV transition will require government subsidies and incentives, increased demand, production volume, and competition as well as technological advancements.
