Muhammad Saleem

Pakistan desperately needs the technology to help reduce the alarming pollution levels, and electric vehicles, particularly electric bikes, offer a promising solution to the issue. However, multiple factors have held up their adoption in the country.

Dr Gillani, a teacher at a state-run university, talking about the consumers’ attitudes towards electric bikes, said that people were hesitant to go for this option due to the surging prices of electricity. Besides, he said other factors were also hindering the adoption of this technology. Elaborating on these factors, he told WealthPK that people were unsure about the durability of electric bikes sold in the market. “This lack of trust is restricting people from purchasing such vehicles.” Gillani predicted that the electric vehicles business would thrive in Pakistan in the future as the country couldn’t sustain a highly polluted environment. “We need technology that can help us clean up our environment, and electric vehicles are the best solution to this problem.” He urged policymakers to work diligently to address consumers’ concerns and build trust for the growth of the electric vehicles business.

“Without winning the confidence of the masses, we would be unable to effectively introduce this technology in the country.” Gillani said thousands of motorcycles were being registered in the country every year, but the number of electric bikes was negligible. “We have to launch an awareness campaign to sensitise people about the importance of electric bikes as most people are unaware of their benefits.” Similarly, he said it’s high time for the government to reassure consumers that the quality of electric bike parts was regularly monitored. He said people had reservations about the battery life, charging time, and resale value of electric bikes. “We have to highlight real-world success stories that will help the industry to convince others.” Gillani also urged traders and companies selling electric bikes to implement targeted marketing campaigns focusing on early adopters. “They need to address consumer concerns through practical programmes.”

When asked how consumer perceptions could be changed to favour the electric bike business, he mentioned that it required a multifaceted approach. “We need to demonstrate the visible presence of electric bikes on roads daily.” Similarly, he said influencer marketing and testimonials from satisfied users would also win the trust of early adopters. Amidst unbridled inflation, he said people would rather save their money than clean up the environment. “We have to educate them on how electric bikes can benefit them financially and help clean up the polluted environment.” Hammad Ahmed, a business analyst, shedding light on the barriers restricting the growth of this industry, told WealthPK that limited local manufacturing capacity was driving up the prices of electric bikes as the manufacturing units were relying on imports. Besides, he said the charging infrastructure was also inadequate as charging stations were non-existent in cities like Faisalabad. “We have to lower the prices of bikes to attract public attention to this technology.

Due to the high prices of the electric bikes, people still prefer conventional motorcycles,” he said. Ahmed said there was a dire need to improve standardisation in terms of parts and batteries. “Without addressing these issues, we cannot boost this sector.” He urged rulers to join hands with Chinese entrepreneurs for joint ventures and ensure local manufacturing of electric bikes on a mass scale. “If we truly want to say goodbye to traditional bikes, this is the way forward,” he added.  “Local manufacturing will ultimately reduce costs and improve after-sales services, which is mandatory for vehicles,” he said, adding that consumers would start responding to this technology if they were informed that electric bikes are affordable with better warranties and maintenance networks. “We should also ensure financing options for people interested in electric bikes, as currently, most banks don’t offer attractive loans in this regard.”

Credit: INP-WealthPk