Pakistan can save more than $1 billion in gross fuel imports over five years by adding approximately 30,000 range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) to the road each year. A fleet comprising 150,000 vehicles could substitute roughly 1.2 billion litres of petrol and prevent about 2.7 million tons of operational carbon emissions over that period.
The economic merits of electric vehicles were detailed in 'Future on Wheels,' a policy viewpoint published by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) in December 2024. Greater uptake of EVs could lessen Pakistan's vulnerability to changes in international oil prices.
Some existing REEV models currently manage travel distances between 150 and 180 kilometres on battery power under suitable conditions. Some users who charge primarily using rooftop solar power have reported monthly savings reaching up to Rs. 65,000 after switching routine travel from petrol to electricity.
Analysts estimate that boosting annual REEV additions to 60,000 could roughly double the projected benefits in fuel savings and emissions reduction. Furthermore, a stable auto policy spanning a minimum of 10 years is considered necessary.
