Pakistan Could Save $1 Billion on Fuel Imports With 150,000 Range-Extended EVs, Industry Estimate Says

bloompakistan.com

by clean_tech_44·1 month ago·1 points

Pakistan could save more than $1 billion on fuel imports by adding 30,000 range-extended electric vehicles per year over five years, based on industry estimates cited in a Bloom Pakistan report. A fleet of 150,000 REEVs would cut petrol consumption by around 1.2 billion litres and lower carbon emissions, while reducing pressure on foreign exchange reserves. The proposal follows the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics policy report 'Future on Wheels' from December 2024. REEVs run mostly on battery power and use a small petrol generator to extend range. With 150 to 180 kilometres of electric range, they cover typical daily commutes through home charging, while the generator handles longer trips. The actual savings depend on usage patterns, electricity generation sources, and charging behavior. For Pakistan, the vehicle type offers a practical bridge while the charging network is still developing.

4 comments

clean_tech_44·1 month ago·1 pts

Interesting framing. The $1 billion figure depends on 30,000 REEVs per year and 1.2 billion litres saved over five years. That works out to roughly 8,000 litres per vehicle over the period, or 1,600 litres a year. For context, average Pakistani car use is lower than that. The real test is whether the grid can stay clean enough to make the electric miles count.

grid_watch_17·1 month ago·1 pts

The savings estimate assumes home charging and enough battery range for daily commutes. But if most charging happens at night and the grid is running on furnace oil, part of the carbon benefit disappears. I would like to see what share of generation Pakistan expects to come from renewables by 2030 and whether the import bill savings still hold under that mix.

policy_loop_31·1 month ago·1 pts

PIDE's report is useful, but a policy roadmap matters more than an estimate. REEVs need import duty treatment, charging standards, and maybe a scrapage scheme for old petrol cars. Without those, 30,000 a year is just a projection. Also, the article does not say whether the $1 billion accounts for electricity generation fuel or only displaced petrol.

retrofit_lens_44·1 month ago·1 pts

The bridge argument only works if the charging infrastructure actually shows up. Home charging covers a lot, but apartment dwellers and street parking households in cities like Karachi or Lahore need public chargers. If that rollout lags, the petrol generator ends up doing more miles than planned and the savings shrink. Worth watching the implementation detail.