Brief Overview of Pakistan's Electric Vehicle Policy

Pakistan has a low level of motorization with just 9% of the households owning a car. Nearly half of all households own a motorcycle. Motorization rates in the country have tripled over the last decade and a half, resulting in nearly 40% of all emissions coming from vehicles. Concerns about climate change and environmental pollution have forced the government to to take a number of actions ranging from adoption of Euro6 emission standards for new vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE) since 2015 and announcement of a national electric vehicle (EV) policy this year.

Vehicle Ownership in Pakistan. Source: PBS

EV Policy:

Pakistan electric vehicle policy 2019 sets EV adoption targets and includes incentives for buyers and manufacturers. It also focuses on development of nationwide charging infrastructure to ease adoption of electric vehicles. Here are some of the salient points of the policy:

 Policy Targets: 

1. Goal for cars: 30% of new sales by 2030 and 90% of new sales by 2040

2. Goal for 2 and 3 wheelers: 50% of new sales by 2030 and 90% of new sales by 2040

3. Goal for buses: 50% of new sales by 2030 and 90% of new sales by 2040

4. Goal for trucks: 30% of new sales by 2030 and 90% of new sales by 2040

Buyer Incentives: 

1. 1% GST for EVs vs 17% for regular vehicles

2. Lower electricity tariffs for EVs

Charging Infrastructure: 

1. Only 1% import duty on charging equipment.

2. Lower power tariffs for charging stations.

3. One fast DC charging station per 3km by 3km area in all major cities

4. DC fast chargers on all motorways every 15-30 km.

5. Ensure uninterrupted power on feeders for charging stations.

Manufacturer Incentives: 

1. All greenfield investments apply to EV manufacturers and those converting their existing facilities to manufacture EVs.

2. State Bank to offer lower rate financing for EV manufacturing.

Summary:

Announcement of National Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2019 by Pakistan government is a step in the right direction. It is a forward looking step needed to deal with climate concerns from growing transport sector emissions with rapidly rising vehicle ownership. It also focuses on development of nationwide charging infrastructure to ease adoption of electric vehicles.  Meanwhile it's crucial that Euro6 emission standards be seriously enforced with proper inspections to limit emissions from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles being sold now.

Related Links:

Haq's Musings

South Asia Investor Review

Vehicle Ownership in Pakistan

Low Carbon Energy in Pakistan

Pakistan Transport Sector

Recurring Cycles of Drought and Floods in Pakistan

Pakistan's Response to Climate Change

Massive Oil and Gas Discovery in Pakistan: Hype vs Reality

Renewable Energy for Pakistan

Digital BRI: China and Pakistan Building Fiber, 5G Networks

LNG Imports in Pakistan

Growing Water Scarcity in Pakistan

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Ownership of Appliances and Vehicles in Pakistan

CPEC Transforming Pakistan

Pakistan's $20 Billion Tourism Industry Boom

Riaz Haq's YouTube Channel

PakAlumni Social Network

Comments

Riaz Haq said…
World s largest electric vehicles manufacturer BYD is all set to enter Pakistan. The announcement was made by Pakistan Electric Vehicles & Parts Manufacturers and Traders Association (PEVPMTA) General Secretary Shaukat Qureshi while talking to local media.

https://dunyanews.tv/en/Business/521071-BYD-electric-vehicles-manufacturing-Pakistan

“Toyota, the world auto giant, for the first time signed an agreement on November 7, 2019, to develop Electric Vehicles with BYD, the world’s largest electric vehicles manufacturer, with 44 plants around the globe employing 250,000 personals, with turnover of $250 billion," he said. “Scenario will definitely change in Pakistan as well, with the Japanese companies roll out their models by 2024," he added.

As a leading new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, BYD has created a broad range of internal combustion (IC), hybrid and battery-electric passenger vehicles.

BYD s NEVs have ranked No.1 in global sales for three consecutive years since 2015. Developing electric vehicles that are intelligent and connected, BYD is inaugurating a new age of automotive innovation.
Riaz Haq said…
My quotes in story on Pakistan's Electric Vehicle Policy
----------------
Two cheers for Pakistan’s electric vehicle policy

https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/2019/12/04/two-cheers-for-pakistans-electric-vehicle-policy/

Riaz Haq, who worked in various tech firms for 35 years in the Silicon Valley and is an EV enthusiast, said with 32 million households and 17.5 million motorcycles registered in Pakistan, the motorcycle ownership has increased from 41% in 2015 to 53% in 2018. Pakistan is the fifth biggest motorcycle market in the world after China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam.

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“It is a forward looking step needed to deal with climate concerns from growing transport sector emissions with rapidly rising vehicle ownership,” Haq wrote in his blog. He has recently bought a Chevy Bolt EV Premier “because of its 238 mile range on a single charge at a price 30% lower than Tesla 3”, after having test driven Tesla Models S, X and 3 and Chevy Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf and Leaf Plus.

Aware of the infrastructure that will be needed for EVs, Aslam sees it as an opportunity with a whole new service industry and numerous livelihood options opening up. “Pakistan is thirsting for new business opportunities and markets. Globally, China is leading the EV industry, like in the manufacture of batteries. If we build our capacity technologically, Pakistan can become a hub for exporting EVs – specially two and three wheelers. We have the appetite to lead and come up with innovative ideas like charging stations that run on solar.”

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All this will be possible, says Haq, because EVs are a lot simpler, “Easier to manufacture, have fewer parts and require fewer people on the assembly line saving labour costs.”
Riaz Haq said…
#Pakistan sets sights on floating #solar as #water scarcity bites. Floating PV modules on dams and lakes not only produce #energy but they also reduce water evaporation and water wastage. #RenewableEnergy #ClimateCrisis
https://www.pv-tech.org/news/floating-solar-to-conserve-water-in-pakistan#.Xek43gpIT1Y.twitter

With Pakistan's water reserves fast depleting, floating solar will be a key part of conserving resources and producing cheap energy, according to the nation's minister for Power and Petroleum Omar Ayub Khan.

Speaking at a conference on the water crisis, Khan announced that floating solar systems would be installed in four reservoirs besides canals at Tarbela, Mangla, Ghazi Barotha and Khanpur.

He noted Pakistan's plans to roll out 18-20GW in new hydropower capacity – taking the power source to 70% of the energy mix – and to ramp up nuclear power to 10% of the energy mix. The new hydro capacity would also offer great opportunities for FPV projects.

Speaking on water conservation, Khan said: "Not just flood irrigation system we have been used to. The world has moved on. We have to make sure that this resource is jealously guarded and used. We are already finalising plans with floating solar."

The government is already in discussions with the energy ministry of Punjab over placing floating solar on its canals so that its irrigation systems can also be run on solar power. Meanwhile, 29,000 tube wells in Balochistan will also be converted to solar. Floating PV modules not only produce energy but they also reduce water evaporation and water wastage.

Khan noted that solar will continue to decrease in price, given that the country has adopted competitive bidding for all new projects under its new renewable energy policy.
Riaz Haq said…
I'm quoted in Dawn's story on electric vehicles today. Most experts are lauding the policy as a step in the right direction. “It is a forward-looking step needed to deal with climate concerns from growing transport sector emissions with rapidly rising vehicle ownership,” Mr Haq wrote in his blog. https://www.dawn.com/news/1521204
Riaz Haq said…
#Solar & #Batteries Will Change #Energy Industry Forever. #Costs are down nearly 90% in past decade, and will be only $8 to $14 per MW-hour by next year, or about a penny per kW-hour. #Electricity @themotleyfool #stocks $RUN $TSLA $HASI $SPWR $BEP $NEE https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/12/11/the-moment-is-here-for-energy-storage.aspx

One of the biggest criticisms of renewable energy has been its inherently intermittent nature. Solar energy plants don't produce power at night, and wind turbines don't produce power without wind, so utilities need fossil-fuel or power plants to keep the grid running. Without a way to store renewable energy, fossil fuel will always be the backbone of the electric grid.

What's changed in the past few years is that energy storage is suddenly an economical asset to consider as part of the electric grid. If regulators and utilities find ways for energy storage to generate revenue, finance companies will open up their wallets and fund investment. Before long, energy storage could change energy forever.

Solving the revenue problem
Energy storage is starting to make financial sense, which is the only way it will ever be able to reach scale. Utilities see value in energy storage as a way to offset expensive peak generation on high-demand days. For example, in one time of use rate plan in Southern California Edison's territory (southern California) peak rates during the summer are $0.38 per kW-hr but rates during off-peak hours are just $0.13 per kW-hr. The $0.25 difference can be cost savings for homeowners with a battery by using the battery's energy during peak hours and charging during off-peak. Depending on the size of the battery, savings could be a few dollars per day for consumers and for utilities it means buying less power from expensive peaker plants, helping lower rates for everyone.

Utilities are also seeing it as a way to reduce transmission and distribution costs, and even put off investment in new power plants. Con Edison is using batteries as part of a plan to defer $1.2 billion in substation investments. And new bids from solar plus energy storage are beating the cost of building new power plants.

Residential and commercial customers are seeing value from a different angle, using energy storage to reduce electricity bills. SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR), Sunrun (NASDAQ:RUN), and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) are starting to build energy storage systems that reduce on-site electric bills and can even bid capacity into electric grids by creating a virtual power plant. There are different models for consumers, but the time of use rate savings I highlighted above is one option and another is commercial building owners saving on demand charges by batteries lowering their peak electricity usage each month.

There's now money to be made in energy storage, so if costs are low enough, the investments will make financial sense.

The cost problem
When batteries cost thousands of dollars per megawatt (MW), it was tough to justify their value to the grid because the up-front expense was too high. But costs have fallen nearly 90% in the past decade, according to NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE), and will be only $8 to $14 per MW-hour by next year, or about a penny per kW-hour. For perspective, the average kW-hour of electricity costs about 13 cents for retail users.

Combined directly with wind and solar, energy storage starts to become really compelling. NextEra Energy estimates that post-2023, wind plus energy storage costs will be $20 to $30 per MW-hour, and solar plus energy storage will be $30 to $40 per MW-hour. Natural gas is expected to match the solar-plus-storage costs.

As the cost of energy storage becomes competitive with traditional fossil fuel assets, there is a growing demand for battery installations and utilities and finance companies are finding ways to make it a profitable investment.

Riaz Haq said…
$9 Billion #Battery Project By #BMW, #BASF. Batteries/electric transmission account for 40% of cars’ costs. #Lithium-ion batteries are poised to power next generation of cars & to help #renewable energy like #wind and #solar. #electricity
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-09/-9-billion-battery-project-with-bmw-basf-gets-eu-green-light via @markets

The European Union’s plan to kick-start battery production and compete with Asian suppliers got a boost from the approval of 3.2 billion euros ($3.5 billion) in state aid for a landmark project that spans across seven nations.


The funds will unlock private investment of around 5 billion euros in the initiative by 17 companies, taking its total value to about $9 billion. It will include industrial and automotive giants such as BASF SE, BMW AG and Fortum Oyj, in order to support the development of innovative and sustainable technologies in lithium-ion batteries from mining and processing the raw materials to production and recycling.

“This is a very important step, even a breakthrough, in what I believe should be the new EU industrial policy,” European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic said on Monday in Brussels. “We should really focus on the area that is very important for this technological competition, which is becoming more and more severe.”

The move by Brussels underscores growing European awareness that key industries risk falling behind if they don’t fill manufacturing gaps in energy storage technology. Lithium-ion batteries are poised to power the next generation of plug-in cars. They also promise to help balance electric grids transmitting renewable energy like wind and solar.

Under the battery project, which aims to be completed by 2031, member states were cleared to grant the following amounts of state aid:

Germany up to around 1.25 billion euros
France up to 960 million euros
Italy up to 570 million euros
Poland up to 240 million euros
Belgium up to 80 million euros
Sweden up to 50 million euros
Finland up to 30 million euros
Clean mobility is set to play an important role in the EU plan to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to present on Wednesday a detailed roadmap of her Green Deal to zero-out emissions.


Another EU battery project, coordinated by Germany, is under way and is likely to seek EU approval for state aid later this month, Sefcovic said. It will probably involve 12-13 member states and around 50 companies.

“The window of opportunity for the European battery industry is open until 2021-2022,” he said. “By then we have to be clearly able to demonstrate that we can manufacture the best batteries in the world on a massive scale, because this is when we expect the ramping up of the production of electric cars and demand in Europe.”

Batteries and electric transmission account for about 40% of passenger cars’ costs and the gap in nascent European production is largely being filled by Japanese and South Korean battery makers like Panasonic, LG Chem Ltd. and Samsung SDI Co. In the U.S., Tesla has built its own battery Gigafactory to satisfy demand for the cars it produces.
Riaz Haq said…
#Energy revolution is here, ushering in a shift toward clean energy. #Green options are beating out fossil-fuels. Cost of #solar panels fell by 80% 2010- 2018, lithium-ion #battery packs by 69% from 2014-2018; #LEDs declined 6X in from 2010 to 2014. #EV https://on.mktw.net/2rJMtEL

For the longest time, the prevailing narrative about renewable energy featured clumsy technologies, high costs, and burdensome subsidies. In the absence of strict mandates and far-reaching policy changes, the chances for mass adoption seemed slim. Electric vehicles (EVs) simply couldn’t go the distance, and LED lights were unattractive and unaffordable.

But now that these technologies have come of age, a new story is being written. Around the world, businesses, governments, and households are taking advantage of more cost-effective low-carbon technologies.

Owing to advances in information technologies (IT), green solutions can be integrated into business operations seamlessly. And as public support for these technologies has grown, so have the prospects for scaling up to a fully sustainable energy system.

As in any rapid transition, a full understanding of what is happening has lagged behind events. Many incumbent energy producers find it hard to believe that their world is undergoing a revolutionary change, so they insist that their heavily polluting technologies will remain relevant and necessary for some time to come.

Journalists, too, describe the transition with a degree of caution, because it is their job to be skeptical. And politicians and regulators are reticent to adopt a new perspective, even though they are already struggling to keep up with the pace of change in the energy industry.

To be sure, progress doesn’t come without setbacks, as the recent growth in energy-related greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions shows. Yet there is no doubt that the future of energy will be dramatically different from the recent past. In fact, the transformation is happening even faster than we think, owing to three key factors.

Cost-effective
First, sustainable-energy technologies are quickly becoming more cost-effective than the alternatives, enabling businesses to reduce pollution, increase efficiency, and provide more goods and services.

The costs of technologies ranging from wind and solar power to EVs and smart grids have plummeted, and the learning curve — the linear drop in costs as new technologies are deployed on an ever-larger scale — has held steady across the board.

The cost of installing utility-scale solar panels fell by 80% from 2010 to 2018. Likewise, the cost of lithium-ion battery packs dropped by 69% from 2014 to 2018; the price of LEDs declined sixfold in just four years, from 2010 to 2014.

What was once pricey is now cost-effective; it will soon be downright cheap.
Riaz Haq said…
#Pakistan govt inks deals for 560 MW of fresh #windenergy. Move in line with the country’s 30% national #renewables goal by 2030 https://renewablesnow.com/news/pakistani-govt-inks-deals-for-560-mw-of-fresh-wind-676632/

Pakistan’s Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) on Friday signed contracts with the developers of projects that will see the country expand its wind power capacity by 560 MW.

The government agency, which is tasked with promoting renewables installation in Pakistan, has inked implementation and guarantee direct agreements with independent power producers (IPPs) regarding 11 projects. The move is in line with the country’s 30% national renewables goal by 2030 and efforts to cut dependence on fossil fuel imports. The new capacity is expected to lead to the production of over 1.8 billion kWh of clean power per year, AEDB said.

Six of the schemes will be supported by the International Finance Corp (IFC), which on Friday signed agreements to finance the so-called Super Six project portfolio with USD 450 million (EUR 406.9m) in debt. Those power plants, with a combined capacity of 310 MW, will be installed in the Jhimpir wind corridor in Sindh province and will be able to generate enough electricity to cover the annual needs of 450,000 homes while offsetting around 650,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually, IFC said in a separate statement. It will provide some USD 86 million in funds from its own account and USD 234 million mobilised from other lenders.

The 11 projects are expected to become operational by 2021.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.904)

Riaz Haq said…
In #Pakistan around 1237 MW #windpower farms are installed out of which a major share contained by the coastal wind corridor in #Sindh province with the installed capacity of about 935 MW. #renewableenergy #cleanenergy https://aip.scitation.org/doi/abs/10.1063/1.5115376

Pakistan is a country with massive potential of clean and green renewable sources of energy, wind energy holds a significant position in it, 50 GW of wind energy farms have been installed throughout the world. In Pakistan around 1237 MW wind power farms are installed out of which a major share contained by the Sindh province with the installed capacity of about 935 MW. This paper analyses the positive steps taken in the wind power sector of our country and Sindh province. Moreover, some recommendations are also presented regarding wind power potential which will be beneficial for insertion of the huge amount of cheap power in the national grid mix to lean the looming issues of Pakistan’s energy sector.
Riaz Haq said…
IRENA Pegs #Pakistan’s Total #RenewableEnergy Capacity By 2018-End At Over 13,000 MW, With #Solar Contributing 12% Or More Than 1,500 MW. Target: 30% of installed capacity to be #renewable by 2030. #cleanenergy #ClimateChange http://taiyangnews.info/markets/pakistans-cumulative-solar-capacity-tops-1-5-gw/

At the end of 2018, the cumulative installed solar energy capacity of Pakistan had reached 1,568 MW, increasing from 742 MW at the end of 2017, representing an addition of over 800 MW in a single year. These statistics are published in the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) annual report, Renewable Capacity Statistics 2019.

The report tracks renewables growth of several countries starting from 2009. For Pakistan it means solar power capacity of 4 MW in 2009 has now grown to 1.5 GW, accounting for 12% of out of 13 GW of total renewable energy capacity of the country in 2018.

Globally, a total of 171 GW of new renewable energy capacity was installed in 2018, growing 7.9% annually, of which 84% came from wind and solar alone. In concrete terms, solar added 94 GW of new capacity with Asia accounting for 64 GW, while wind grew by 49 GW.

According to an April 2018 Renewables Readiness Assessment report of IRENA, Pakistan does not have a clear renewable energy target, which the agency says is a must to ‘translate political will into a language that can be understood by investors’.

The World Wind Energy Association reported on April 2, 2019 that the new government in the country under Prime Minister Imran Khan plans to increase the share of renewable energy in total power generation to 30% by 2030, from wind, solar and biomass, and additionally 30% from large-scale hydropower. It would be a 26% points increase from the current renewables share of 4%. Pakistan is working on its Renewable Energy Policy 2019 whose guiding principles have been approved by the government’s Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE).

As per January 2017 directives issued by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) of Pakistan, the country should be moving towards a competitive bidding process for utility scale solar and wind power plants, something that’s yet to take place.

In a December 2018 report, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) wrote that the country could reach 12.4 GW of total installed solar power capacity by 2029-30, provided the government came up with clearly defined targets for long-term renewable energy policy (see IEEFA Suggests 30% RE For Pakistan By 2030).

Kamran Ali said…
There is no doubt that Battery Electric Vehicles provide pollution free urban environment, but their acquisition and operational costs cannot be assumed as simple as US DOE’s comparison of eGallon vs Gasoline Gallon. From the perspective of a global car purchaser, following costs need to be added to come up with a true comparison of BEVs and conventional cars:
• Costs of generating electricity for BEVs and environmental impact
• Transmission and Distribution losses of electric grid
• Availability of charging stations and consideration for BEV’s convenient operations
• Financing cost of High up-front price
• Higher insurance costs due to Li-ion-batteries which are very expensive to replace if damaged
• End-of-life costs for battery disposal
Once we add up the costs under above list of items, Battery Electric Vehicles may no longer stand out as first choice in various regions of the world. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles have a better chance to score higher than BEVs being convenient and less dependent on grid.
Riaz Haq said…
#Pakistan in deal with #China to launch #EVs & #ebuses. Skywell Automobiles will provide its state of the art electric buses for the Pakistan market in Phase-1, and in Phase 2, shall set up a #manufacturing plant to produce #ElectricVehicles in Pakistan. https://auto.hindustantimes.com/auto/news/pakistan-ink-deal-with-china-to-launch-electric-vehicles-and-buses-this-year-41598509642608.html

To be launched in two phases, the Chinese company will invest $50 million in the first phase, while in the second phase manufacturing of the electric buses would be started.

Pakistan’s Daewoo Express and China’s Skywell Automobile has signed a deal to collaborate and launch electric vehicles, including public transports like electric buses, this year.

Pakistan’s minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter to announce that the deal will shape the ‘future of public transport in Pakistan’. He also said, "From this year, electric buses will start running in Pakistan, and in three years, these buses will start being completely manufactured in Pakistan."

Under this Strategic Alliance Agreement, Skywell Automobiles and Daewoo Express will collaborate to introduce electric buses and other electric vehicles in Pakistan and create a technical support base in the country. Skywell Automobiles will provide its state of the art electric buses for the Pakistan market in Phase-1, and in Phase 2, shall set up a manufacturing plant to produce electric vehicles in Pakistan.

The Skywell Automobile CEO, speaking through a video link, said such an agreement between Pakistan and China would help build the automobile industry of Pakistan on modern lines and open new avenues for energy-based vehicles. "We are striving for promoting new energy vehicles policy in Pakistan. Electric special vehicles and logistics can have a big share in the global markets," he said.

"We have seen in Peshawar’s BRT buses and now from hybrid to electric buses regime. Above all, its impact on our environment would be quite positive," said Sheriar Hussain, Daewoo’s representative.

During the ceremony, Fawad Chaudhry also assured that work on electric bikes and three-wheelers vehicles was on cards, and a policy for four-wheelers will also be finalised within days.
Riaz Haq said…
Pakistan will have 30% #ElectricVehicles by 2030. Along with #Denmark and #Norway, #Pakistan co-chairs a 32-nation Group of Friends on Sustainable #Energy, which is committed to a transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy. #renewableenergy https://www.dawn.com/news/1594548

Pakistan has informed the international community that it’s working on a plan to ensure that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of the vehicles used in the country are electronic.

Along with Denmark and Norway, Pakistan co-chairs a 32-nation Group of Friends on Sustainable Energy, which is committed to a transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy.

Pakistan is also a member of the Group of Friends on Climate Change, which is also committed to promoting the use of safe, renewable energy.

Speaking at a virtual meeting of this group in New York earlier this week, Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram warned that most developing countries could fail to fulfill their commitments to the goal of creating a clean environment if they were not helped in making an adequate recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD

“If developing countries are destitute, if there are humanitarian disasters, if we are unable to recover from Covid, I think all other actions for many developing countries will become irrelevant,” he said. “So urgent and immediate actions are needed.”

The Pakistani envoy, who is also the president of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), urged major emitters of harmful gases into the atmosphere to fulfil their commitment to creating a safe and clean environment for all.

“There are positive indications I agree, but I believe that these should be made much clearer as we go forward, especially from the biggest country, the United States,” he said. “We look forward to what the new US administration will have to say in the coming months.”

Urging the world’s leading nations to fulfil their pledge for the hundred billion annual commitment on climate finance, Ambassador Akram said: “I think for many developing countries that will be an acid test.”

Pakistan, he said, was one of the smallest emitters of carbon in the world, but it’s also one of the most vulnerable countries with devastating environmental impact.

“We have an extensive and ambitious plan, both on adaptation, mitigation,” he said, adding that Pakistan was committed to meeting the targets set by various international agreements for promoting clean energy.

“We are also a champion on financing investment in renewable energy, and we look forward to playing that role as well,” he said.

Ambassador Akram also underlined the need for concrete progress on development transfer and deployment of technology in developing countries.

In August, Pakistan unveiled a plan to boost the share of renewable energy to 30 per cent by 2030, up from about 4 per cent today.

During the first phase, Pakistan aims to increase the share of renewables in power mix to 30 per cent by 2025. The targeted mix will include mainly wind and solar power, but also geothermal, tidal, wave and biomass energy.

With boosts in hydropower capacity, Pakistan hopes to bring the share of clean energy in its electricity mix to 65 per cent by 2030.

But plans to build seven more coal-fired power plants during the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project could prevent the country from reaching this goal. Pakistan’s intended move to clean energy has also been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Riaz Haq said…
The battle within the electric-vehicle industry will intensify
The new kids v the old hands

The World Ahead

https://www.economist.com/the-world-ahead/2020/11/17/the-battle-within-the-electric-vehicle-industry-will-intensify

The surging share price of Tesla, now the world’s most valuable carmaker, provides a big incentive for incumbents and newcomers to catch up. Tesla may lead in battery technology and software, but to make those advantages stick it must prove that “production hell” is behind it. The firm’s boss, Elon Musk, dreams of making 20m cars a year; in 2019 he made 370,000. Scaling up manufacturing has caused Tesla its biggest headaches. Will its new “gigafactories” in Texas and near Berlin come online as smoothly as a new plant in Shanghai, providing proof that Tesla can expand at will?

Tesla may have some catching up to do in large-scale production, but established carmakers face an equally daunting challenge: learning how to write software. Electric cars require integrated software, not just to ensure that batteries and motors work together to provide the best performance, but to connect the car to the outside world. Incumbent carmakers are struggling to combine disparate electronic systems from different suppliers to create the seamless experience offered by Tesla, which constantly improves its cars with smartphone-style “over the air” software updates.

Pivoting from mechanical engineering to developing software and providing the mobility services that customers will increasingly demand (such as ride-hailing and ride-sharing) is not the only challenge. Incumbents must also wind down investments in combustion-­engine technology and make the alliances needed to catch up on batteries and software. Expect more joint ventures and investments in startups, as they try to share costs, shift away from petrol power and bring in new thinking.

And what of the Tesla wannabes, from China’s Li, Nio, WM Motor and Xpeng to American firms such as Fisker, Lucid and scandal-hit Nikola? Cash from excitable investors has poured in and established carmakers are also taking stakes—as are tech giants, keen to get involved as transport goes digital. But which companies will have staying power? Can the wannabes persuade investors that they have proprietary technology that will give them a long-term advantage?


Flashy launches of vehicles are one thing, but as the industry’s travails show, working out how to make cars at scale, when bits and bytes are as important as brakes and bodywork, is quite another. Establishing retail and maintenance networks is no joyride, either. The coming year will make clearer which of Tesla’s competitors, new and old, can stay in the race.

Riaz Haq said…
#Japan's #Hitachi picks #Pakistan for #emergingmarket break in electric bus chargers.
Japanese group also eyes deals in #MiddleEast for zero-emission infrastructure. #ElectricVehicles #ClimateAction #CleanEnergy https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Hitachi-picks-Pakistan-for-emerging-market-break-in-electric-bus-chargers


Hitachi will help build charging infrastructure for electric buses in Pakistan, part of the Japanese industrial group's search for deals in this sector in South Asia and the Middle East, Nikkei has learned.

Hitachi ABB Power Grids, a subsidiary of the Tokyo-based blue chip, sees emerging markets as an important proving ground for its charging system, which replenishes bus batteries not only at terminals but also in quick bursts at each stop.

Demand for electric buses is projected to surge as Asian nations seek to temper urban sprawl with low-carbon-emissions technology. By 2030, 3 million to 5 million electric buses will be in service worldwide, up from about 500,000 in 2019, the International Energy Agency forecasts.

In Pakistan, Hitachi ABB Power Grids will work with local bus company Daewoo Express and Chinese electric bus maker Sky-well New Energy Automobile Group to build a network. The Hitachi unit has reached a preliminary agreement to supply charging infrastructure for this effort.

Sky-well will supply buses built outside of Pakistan to Daewoo Express, with a view to eventually assembling them in the country.

In the Middle East, Hitachi ABB Power Grids will team with another Chinese bus maker, Yinlong Energy. Charging equipment there will need to be built to withstand searing daytime temperatures and sandstorms.

Emerging markets are home to many cities with underdeveloped urban transportation, giving them a unique opportunity to jump directly to the most advanced zero-emission technology.

Hitachi aims to eventually transfer the know-how it gains in these countries to projects in advanced economies.

The company is not the only Japanese player seeking overseas growth in electric buses. Trading houses Mitsui & Co. and Sumitomo Corp. have enlisted their own international partners in this field.

Shares in Tokyo-listed Hitachi -- whose businesses span power grids, trains, factory automation and appliances -- reached a roughly 20-year high in Tokyo trading on Friday, lifted by forecasts that the company is headed toward a record net profit for the second year in a row.
Riaz Haq said…
Is #Apple #EV Under Development? Apple Has Hired Former BMW i3 & i8 Exec For #ElectricCar Project. Several #Tesla executives have moved to Apple over the years, but there's still no sign of any car or related platform. https://insideevs.com/news/513449/apple-hires-bmw-exec-ev/?fbclid=IwAR3MS9NY4us3c16PvlD8tDYnYv_o7bzULNZaxSlC9L8IeDaESuenCpPa6eY via @insideevs.com

Apple has been touting an EV on and off for years. It this the real deal now?
According to a recent article by Autoblog, based on information from sources familiar with the matter, Apple has hired Ulrich Kranz to head up its electric car project. Kranz is a former BMW executive with ties to the i3 and i8. A spokesperson from Apple has confirmed the hiring of Kranz.

A few months ago, Kranz left his role at self-driving startup Canoo, and it seems Apple jumped on the opportunity to hire him rather quickly. Kranz was actually the co-founder and CEO of Canoo. He left a senior vice president position at BMW to move forward with Canoo. His group at BMW worked on developing the i3 electric car and i8 plug-in hybrid.

For years, people have talked about the parallels between Tesla and Apple. There has also been much talk about the potential for the companies to join hands. Moreover, skeptics have pointed to a potential Apple Car as a "nail in the coffin" for Tesla. However, while Tesla continues to innovate, build global factories, and outsell all other EVs across the globe, Apple has certainly been taking its time.

Apple has also been very wishy-washy about its EVs plans, promising to bring the Apple Car to market, changing its mind, looking to other companies to build its cars, canceling the project, reinstating the project, and now, hiring a top legacy auto executive.

Many Apple fans will tell you this hire is a big deal since it means Apple definitely has plans to bring an EV to market. However, until there's proof that a car is actually coming, we're not holding our breath. Nonetheless, we'd love to see an Apple EV become reality, and we hope Kranz is the answer. If any company has what it takes to follow Tesla's lead, Apple should be on the list, but it could be a long road ahead.

Apple's car efforts started way back in 2014, but after just two years, the company decided to table the project in favor of an autonomous driving platform. Several Tesla executives have moved to Apple over the years, but there's still no sign of any car or related platform.

Do you have any faith in an upcoming Apple Car? Is this recent Apple hire enough to really get the ball rolling? Let us know your thoughts on this in the comment section below.
Riaz Haq said…
Chinese Electric Vehicle manufacturing companies invited to invest in Pakistani market

https://www.app.com.pk/global/chinese-electric-vehicle-manufacturing-companies-invited-to-invest-in-pakistani-market/

BEIJING, Nov 4 (APP): Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moinul Haque on Thursday called on Liu Ziqing, Member of Municipal standing committee and Secretary of Working Committee of Wuhan and discussed cooperation between Pakistan and Wuhan in the industrial and technological sectors.

During the meeting held at Demonstration Zone of Wuhan new energy and smart network, Liu Ziqing briefed the ambassador about the immense growth potential of Wuhan city particularly in the areas of biotechnology, semiconductors and new energy and smart network. Moreover, the demonstration zone was being developed into an auto valley.


He offered collaboration between automobile companies of the two countries in this special zone.


Recalling that during the opening ceremony of the Military Games held in Wuhan in October 2019, Pakistani contingent was given a standing ovation by the cheering crowd in the presence of President Xi Jinping.


Liu Ziqing said that the people of Wuhan have a special bond of friendship with Pakistan and would like to enhance joint collaboration in diverse areas.


Ambassador Haque remarked that due to their consistent efforts, cooperation between Pakistan and Wuhan was growing rapidly in many new areas.


He noted that new energy vehicles was an important area of cooperation between the two countries as demand for electric vehicles was increasing in Pakistan and invited Chinese Electric Vehicle manufacturing companies to invest in Pakistani market.


The ambassador paid tribute to the brave people of Wuhan for their fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and also thanked Wuhan government for looking after Pakistani students during the pandemic.


Earlier, Ambassador Moinul Haque was given a detailed briefing about the development of new energy vehicles in Wuhan at the demonstration zone. He was also given a tour of locally manufactured AI based driverless electric bus.
Riaz Haq said…
Finding EV batteries
We never learnt how to make engines so why not try our hand at batteries. Only this time, not for ourselves.


https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/11/14/finding-ev-batteries-2/

Profit talked to a source at the Geological Survey of Pakistan, who on the condition of being anonymous, did tell us that there were various sites that had been identified with potential lithium reserves. Profit also reached out, persistently might we add, to Ahsan Iqbal, the Federal Minister of Planning & Special Initiatives. Sadly, we could not obtain a comment. Thankfully, his rejection indicates that there may actually be fire to the smoke because a flat rejection is very easy to give. More importantly, Pakistan has been touted to have lithium reserves as far back as 2005 based on a report by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

These reserves were touted to be in Chitral and in Gilgit-Baltistan, but we just never got around to exploring them. Why? A mixture of a lack of finances and aforementioned areas being subject to an insurgency movement not too long ago. Most importantly, these areas in Pakistan are not random places on the map by any means. They, alongside Afghanistan, are part of the Kafiristan Valley. What is the importance of this? Afghanistan is projected to have the largest lithium deposits in the world. And where in Afghanistan are they? Afghanistan’s Nuristan province is touted as one potential destination. It also borders Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan, and thus we come full circle. So let us tell you why Pakistan will squander this entirely.

Haval, Pakistan’s most technologically advanced company as of right now, chose to build a hybrid electric vehicle rather than an electric vehicle. This is very important, and very concerning. Why do we say this? Because Sazgar, Haval’s parent in Pakistan, does have access to electric vehicles through its arrangements with China’s Haval and BAIC. Yet, they chose not to. Why? “Pakistan is currently not ready for an electric car but it is ready for a hybrid electric one.” Ammar Hameed, Director at Sazgar Engineering Works, told Profit. Now why does Hameed believe that to be the case?

“Electric vehicles are not possible in Pakistan because you need to first install charging points across the country. It’s currently not feasible to own an electric car. They are good for driving within a city but you would find it hard to travel for example from Lahore to Islamabad. They are adding charging stations on the motorway but you will have a shortage of chargers as more EVs come on the road,” Hameed told Profit. “You’ll have to wait half an hour to charge your car. Even with a supercharger, it will take 15-20 minutes to charge. Now imagine there are only two chargers on the motorway and you have four to five cars that need to be charged.” Hameed continued. He is not alone in his concerns

“People do not have the assurance e.g. When I go as a consumer to buy a vehicle, I would like to go from here to Islamabad to Multan to Bahawalpur in one go,” Dr Naveed Arshad, Associate Professor at LUMS told Profit. What does this lack of assurance mean? It means lower potential sales. What do fewer sales mean? Fewer companies want to actually launch electric vehicles. Now what is the importance of this, apart from wanting to find a more affordable alternative to the E-Tron? Lack of interest from the government, and likely subsequent governments to come. Profit understands that this is a sweeping statement so, therefore, let’s contextualise it by explaining how the State approaches industrial policy.
Riaz Haq said…
Prospects and Potential of Lithium in Pakistan; Known Occurrences, Ore Deposit Types and Future Prospecting Geological Survey of Pakistan 2021
July 2021
DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.21198.79685
Project: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mineral Exploration Projects by GSP Peshawar
Authors:
Yasir Shaheen Khalil
Geoscience Labs

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353549090_Prospects_and_Potential_of_Lithium_in_Pakistan_Known_Occurrences_Ore_Deposit_Types_and_Future_Prospecting_Geological_Survey_of_Pakistan_2021

The technical report "Prospects and Potential of Lithium in Pakistan; Known Occurrences, Ore Deposit Types and Future Prospecting" describes the Lithium potential of Pakistan. Different sources of lithium bearing phases in LCT type pegmatites of Chitral and Gilgit, super arid salt lakes of Chagai and Sindh and potential of lithium in the sea water of Exclusive Economic Zone of oceanic waters of Pakistan is discussed in details.
Peter said…
Thanks for the detailed report. Great opportunities for the Pakistani economy.
Riaz Haq said…
NFHS-5 report 7 Percent of households in India own a car, Goa first and Bihar last IG News

https://irshadgul.com/nfhs-5-report-7-percent-of-households-in-india-own-a-car-goa-first-and-bihar-last-ig-news/

NFHS-5 report 7 Percent of households in India own a car, Goa first and Bihar last
New Delhi: According to the National Family Health Survey 2019-21 (NFHS-5) report, 7.5% of households in India own a car. This number has increased by 1.5% in the last 4 years. In 2018, the figure was 6%. In terms of states, Goa ranks first, Kerala second and undivided Jammu and Kashmir third. In Goa, 45.2% of households own a car. The figure is 24.2% in Kerala and 23.7% in Jammu and Kashmir.

In Himachal Pradesh 22.1% of households own a car, in Punjab the figure is 21.9% and in Nagaland it is 21.3%. In Sikkim, 20.9% of households own a car. The hill and northeastern states are at the forefront in this regard. 19.3% in Arunachal Pradesh, 17.0% in Manipur, 15.5% in Mizoram, 12.9% in Meghalaya and 8.1% in Assam own a car. In the hill states of Uttarakhand, after Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal, 12.7% of households own a car.

In the national capital Delhi, 19.4% of households own a car. In Haryana, 15.3% of households own a car. In Uttar Pradesh, the largest state in the country in terms of population, only 5.50% of households own a car. The fewest families in Bihar have their own car. Only 2.0 per cent of households in the state own a car. This is followed by the number of Odisha. In Odisha, 2.7% of households own a car.

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