Introducing electric bikes

Last week, Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the launch ceremony of Pakistan’s first locally manufacture electric bike under the Jolta EV technology project. The project focuses on the need to electrify the auto-industry in order to promote an eco-friendly environment. It is part of the ambitious Pakistan Electric Vehicle Policy 2020-2025, the aim of which is to bring about a green revolution in Pakistan and reduce the carbon footprint especially in mega cities.

About 7,500 new motorcycles are sold in Pakistan daily and almost 2 million are manufactured every year. According to recent studies, an electric bike produces 90% less emission than a standard motorcycle — this will prove to be significant. Furthermore, owners can save over Rs4,000 in fuel costs since these bikes only require overnight charge, which is ideal for the working class.

From its very onset, climate change has been an enormous threat for Pakistan because of its geographical location. Millions of livelihoods are at stake. Therefore, we must understand that even though such initiatives might be insignificant from a global perspective — for that Pakistan will have to push the agenda in the international forum — it will however help mitigate the effects of climate change within the country. If enough electric bikes are introduced onto the streets, it will help decrease the heat dissipation and carbon emission, and in turn improve the air quality index of polluted cities like Karachi and Lahore.

Since the battery industry is dominated by East Asian countries such as China and Japan, Pakistan can also look towards improving trade relations and import high-level technology to further enhance the scope of such projects. Furthermore, with the transition of electric powered vehicles, Pakistan may be able to reduce its heavy annual oil import bill. One sincerely hopes that the project expands in scale and the PM continues to remain invested in it. Initiation and implementation are two sides of the same coin. As citizens, we must be conscious of our decisions, adopt eco-friendly practices, and do our part.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2021.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.