Electric vehicle shift lags amid infrastructure gaps
• PM’s 30pc target stalls as OMCs expand outlets without chargers • Petrol demand stays robust on two-wheeler boom KARACHI: The government is considering several options to reduce the fuel import bill, the latest being the upgrade of refineries at an estimated cost of $6 billion. Earlier efforts to reduce petrol imports by promoting compressed natural gas (CNG) in the automotive sector faltered…
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif aims to transition 30% of vehicles to electric by 2026, hoping to cut $4.5bn annually in fuel imports. However, the push for electric vehicles (EVs) is stalling due to insufficient charging infrastructure. Oil marketing companies (OMCs) continue expanding retail fuel outlets, but little investment is made in EV charging stations.
Despite the Middle East crisis driving some consumers toward electrified vehicles like hybrid and battery EVs, petrol demand remains robust due to the popularity of two-wheelers. Pakistan currently imports 70% of its petrol, with only 2.5m tonnes produced locally. Refinery upgrades are crucial for energy security and competitiveness, potentially increasing output by one million tonnes annually.
While some OMCs like WEPL, PSO, and APL are investing in new retail outlets and EV charging infrastructure, progress is slow. The lack of fast chargers and the longer charging times compared to refuelling are significant obstacles. Industry experts suggest hybrid vehicles may be a better option until a robust charging network develops.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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