The Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMMA) has revealed that nearly 90% of electric bikes sold in the country are equipped with outdated and substandard batteries, posing serious risks to consumer trust and the sustainability of the electric vehicle (EV) industry.
According to PAMMA, billions of rupees allocated as government subsidies to promote electric vehicles are being spent on unsafe and obsolete technologies. The association warned that if this trend continues, public confidence in EVs will decline, and Pakistan’s national goals for environmental protection will face major setbacks.
In an official statement, PAMMA Director General Abdul Waheed Khan said that despite government incentives, consumers still have to pay a significant amount to purchase EVs. He emphasized that people should not be compelled to buy vehicles fitted with unreliable batteries falsely marketed as advanced technology.
Khan explained that over 90% of Pakistan’s electric two-wheelers rely on lead-acid batteries with a superficial graphene coating, calling it “a deceptive practice disguised as innovation.” He warned that once consumers are disappointed by these poor-quality “graphene batteries,” they may never return to EVs again, undermining years of government efforts to promote clean transportation.
He urged the government to allocate its Rs122 billion subsidy only to manufacturers using proven and modern lithium-ion or advanced battery technologies, which offer longer life, faster charging, higher efficiency, and better range.
Khan also accused vested interests of spreading misleading information by distorting international production data of electric vehicles. He cited figures from the International Energy Agency (IEA), stating that global sales of electric two- and three-wheelers reached nearly 10 million units, led by China, followed by India, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
The PAMMA chief stressed that the government must resist pressure from such lobbies and ensure that national resources are spent only on reliable and safe battery technologies, safeguarding both the auto industry’s credibility and consumer trust.
