KARACHI:
Pakistan produced more than 1.5 million bikes last year. Honda produced more than 80 per cent of these bikes. Pakistan imports 16 billion dollars of oil annually, 60 per cent of which is used by bikes. If Pakistan can convert these bikes into electric, it can save 10 billion dollars annually.
Electric bikes have only three major components — an electric motor, a battery and a control circuit. E-bikes usually use a brushless DC motor which has 90 per cent efficiency and a graphene battery which has a long life. In Pakistan, a mid-range E-bike costs 140,000 to 190,000 rupees and has a maximum speed of 60 km per hour. The fuel cost of an E-bike is less than 1 rupee per km as against 7 to10 rupees per km of a petrol bike. The maintenance cost of an E-bike is also very low. Also, there is no need of engine oil change in an E-bike that have zero emissions. The conversion kit of E-bike is available for 12,000 to 20,000 rupees in Pakistan.
It’s thus a win-win for not just the user but the government too if petrol bikes are converted into E-bikes.
Muhammad Shoaib
Islamabad
