Revving it up : It’s time to switch to the E-bike
The cost of running the motorcycle is less than 90 per cent compared to that for conventional motorcycles.
KARACHI:
The latest addition to Pakistan's automobile industry, the E-bikes, is sure to be popular among bike-lovers who must by now be sick and tired of the fluctuations in petroleum prices.
This E-bike does not need petrol or engine oil so you need not worry about the weekly strikes when petrol pumps shut shop. All you need to do is connect the adapter to a power source, charge the battery and you're ready to go.
On Sunday evening, the Karachi's residents got firsthand experience of the motorcycles when Athar Ahmed Khan - the businessman who imports the bikes to Pakistan-and his team brought the E-bikes to Sea View for a test drive and formal launch ceremony in Karachi.
Khan and his team members are optimistic about the product that they hope will replace the Chinese-manufactured 70CC bikes and give citizens an eco-friendly and noiseless drive. Dozens of visitors at the beach gathered at the camp set up by Khan and his team for the test drive and took a ride on the different models of the bikes that they had brought.
"This is our official launch in Karachi," said Khan. "We have already sold 25 units in Faisalabad," he revealed, adding that the motorcycle was easy to ride and had a much better drive than the conventional motorcycles.
The monthly cost of running the motorcycle is around Rs200, while that for a conventional motorcycle is over Rs3,000. With a top speed of 60 kilometres per hours, a single charge of the battery can cover 100 kilometres.
Waqas Ahmed Khan, a sales manager in the import company, explained that according to the K-Electric's calculations, the motorcycle can travel nine kilometres for a rupee's worth of electricity. The charger is similar to those for laptops and portable devices.
The E-bike is accelerated by an 800-watt electric motor, powered by battery that costs Rs12,000 and gives 50,000 kilometres in a lifetime. "We hope to replace the combustion engine bikes in the next five years. The response is good and people are placing orders at our website because the product is eco-friendly," said Waqas. With regards to the after-sales services, he said that the company would provide servicing at the doorstep. "Moreover, the vehicles do not need to be registered with the excise and taxation department as they are below 50 CC," he said.
The camp had attracted a large number of people, who waited in line to take a test drive on the E-bikes. "It was good experience and the bike is so smooth and comfortable. It is good for restaurants because their fuel cost will be considerably reduced and the price of the bike can be recovered in a year," said Haroon Jadoon, a resident of Clifton who took a ride of the bike.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2014.
The latest addition to Pakistan's automobile industry, the E-bikes, is sure to be popular among bike-lovers who must by now be sick and tired of the fluctuations in petroleum prices.
This E-bike does not need petrol or engine oil so you need not worry about the weekly strikes when petrol pumps shut shop. All you need to do is connect the adapter to a power source, charge the battery and you're ready to go.
On Sunday evening, the Karachi's residents got firsthand experience of the motorcycles when Athar Ahmed Khan - the businessman who imports the bikes to Pakistan-and his team brought the E-bikes to Sea View for a test drive and formal launch ceremony in Karachi.
Khan and his team members are optimistic about the product that they hope will replace the Chinese-manufactured 70CC bikes and give citizens an eco-friendly and noiseless drive. Dozens of visitors at the beach gathered at the camp set up by Khan and his team for the test drive and took a ride on the different models of the bikes that they had brought.
"This is our official launch in Karachi," said Khan. "We have already sold 25 units in Faisalabad," he revealed, adding that the motorcycle was easy to ride and had a much better drive than the conventional motorcycles.
The monthly cost of running the motorcycle is around Rs200, while that for a conventional motorcycle is over Rs3,000. With a top speed of 60 kilometres per hours, a single charge of the battery can cover 100 kilometres.
Waqas Ahmed Khan, a sales manager in the import company, explained that according to the K-Electric's calculations, the motorcycle can travel nine kilometres for a rupee's worth of electricity. The charger is similar to those for laptops and portable devices.
The E-bike is accelerated by an 800-watt electric motor, powered by battery that costs Rs12,000 and gives 50,000 kilometres in a lifetime. "We hope to replace the combustion engine bikes in the next five years. The response is good and people are placing orders at our website because the product is eco-friendly," said Waqas. With regards to the after-sales services, he said that the company would provide servicing at the doorstep. "Moreover, the vehicles do not need to be registered with the excise and taxation department as they are below 50 CC," he said.
The camp had attracted a large number of people, who waited in line to take a test drive on the E-bikes. "It was good experience and the bike is so smooth and comfortable. It is good for restaurants because their fuel cost will be considerably reduced and the price of the bike can be recovered in a year," said Haroon Jadoon, a resident of Clifton who took a ride of the bike.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2014.