This project is a rapid assessment of the Electric Vehicles (EVs) and batteries market in Pakistan, conducted by LUMS. Over 100 interviews were conducted with individuals representing automobile manufacturers, automotive parts manufacturers, and public sector entities involved in governing the EV value chain in Pakistan. The insights from these interviews were used to analyse the current and future state of the EV and battery market in the country. The project also examined the legislative and regulatory framework for EVs in Pakistan, particularly the Electric Vehicle Policy. Additionally, EV-related policies in Pakistan were compared with those of regional countries, including India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, to evaluate best practices in a local context.

Understanding battery degradation is crucial because it directly impacts the performance and lifespan of lithium-ion batteries, which power many everyday technologies, including electric vehicles (EVs). Although these batteries are rechargeable and offer high energy and power density, they degrade over time due to chemical changes that corrode the electrodes and decompose the electrolyte within the cell. This degradation results in reduced efficiency and capacity fade, affecting the reliability and longevity of the batteries. Addressing battery degradation can extend battery life, improve performance, and support sustainable energy solutions like EVs. Additionally, managing degradation is essential for controlling maintenance costs, optimizing resource use, and ensuring the environmental sustainability of energy storage systems. Thus, studying battery degradation is key to advancing clean energy technologies and promoting their widespread adoption. This project aims to tackle the critical challenge of battery degradation in sustainable energy. As batteries become increasingly important for powering applications such as electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, understanding how they degrade is essential for maximizing their lifespan and optimizing performance. Our investigation focuses on identifying the primary modes of battery degradation, specifically in three areas: loss of active material, conduction losses and loss of lithium inventory. By analysing data obtained from experiments, we aim to uncover the mechanisms driving battery degradation. Our study quantifies degradation modes at 80%, 50%, and 20% state of charge under dynamic load profiles and constant temperature. The insights gained from this research will be invaluable to researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers, helping them develop more durable and efficient batteries. Ultimately, this project contributes to the advancement of sustainable energy solutions by providing a deeper understanding of battery degradation, which is crucial for the continued growth and success of clean energy technologies.

Accelerate Prosperity (AP) was a vital part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) global initiative in Central and South Asia, aiming to enhance economic growth in areas with limited opportunities. The program provided tailored business advisory services and patient capital to support startups and small businesses, complementing the broader employment initiatives of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF). Collaborating with the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development’s Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) and various national partners, AP recognized the need for comprehensive support in fragile and emerging markets. The U Solve: EV-Chapter was launched as a specialized training program for selected participants working in the electric vehicle (EV) domain, primarily manufacturers. This initiative aimed to equip these participants with essential skills and knowledge needed to navigate the challenges in the EV sector. The training focused on areas such as grid integration, sustainable manufacturing practices, and energy-efficient components. By providing practical training and insights, AP helped participants develop innovative solutions to address infrastructure inadequacies, enhance environmental sustainability, and optimize energy usage. Through this training program, AP sought to empower manufacturers in the EV sector, fostering growth and creating jobs while contributing to sustainable development in the region.

Punjab holds significant potential for the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and battery storage. As the most populous province in Pakistan, with a median age of 23 years, Punjab also boasts the largest road network in the country. Currently, there are around 21.9 million registered vehicles in the province, with 82% comprising two and three-wheelers, 9.5% passenger cars, and 4% buses, trucks, and other specialized vehicles. The automotive sector has experienced double-digit growth in recent years, driven by a young population and a relatively new network of highways and motorways. This trend is expected to continue over the next decade. The fossil fuel-dominated transportation sector in Pakistan is the largest contributor to harmful emissions, severely impacting the environment. Consequently, pollution levels have exceeded the safe limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other agencies. As a signatory to the Paris Climate Agreement, Pakistan has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030. Reducing emissions from the transportation sector is crucial to meeting this commitment and achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. We believe that EVs can play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges faced by Pakistan's energy and transport sectors. EVs produce no tailpipe emissions and can also act as a flexible load by utilizing surplus generation capacity during off-peak hours. To support EV adoption, the National Electric Vehicle Policy (NEVP) was approved in 2019, offering incentives to EV users and manufacturers. However, developing DC fast-charging infrastructure on motorways and highways to alleviate 'range anxiety' remains a significant challenge. This report aims to guide the Government of Punjab in swiftly implementing the EV policy and accelerating EV adoption across the province.

In the proposed project, we aim to develop a big-data-based platform to facilitate swappable battery charging, particularly for 3-wheelers. The methodology includes extracting data from the battery, motor, and motor control unit in the vehicle via the CAN protocol. This data will be transmitted through cellular networks or Wi-Fi to a central server. Similarly, the battery vending machine at the swappable battery station will send real-time data about battery health, availability, and pricing. This information will be relayed via 4G or a similar network to the central server, where it will be processed to generate valuable insights. The processed data will be made available to EV users through a mobile application, allowing them to check nearby charging stations, battery pack availability, and the health of each battery pack. Additionally, the data at the central server will be utilized for various purposes, such as determining the optimal spatial distribution of charging stations, developing standards and specifications for swappable batteries, and refining a business model for swappable battery-based charging solutions. The insights gained from this project will also inform policy initiatives to support the mass adoption of electric mobility. This project represents an effort to create a unique charging solution tailored to meet local requirements.

This project uplifts our industry’s value chain with exploration and dissemination of understanding of new business models and supply chain management-related issues to guide the development of the needed policies and regulatory frameworks. It can be accomplished by understanding the underlying factors that can trigger the build-up of the ecosystem for the development of the manufacturing supply chain and adoption of EVs in developing countries, particularly in Pakistan. Furthermore, LUMS acting as the prime partner intends to create a Center for Electric Mobility (CEM) for stakeholders to collectively have the impact needed for this mobility transformation.

The project aims to develop a framework for evaluating the readiness of the automotive industry for Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) manufacturing. This will involve conducting a market study through interviews, surveys, and focus group discussions with auto manufacturers and assemblers, as well as with manufacturers and assemblers of key BEV components such as batteries, motors/traction systems, inverters, and associated hardware and software.

This project begins by providing an overview of Pakistan's transportation sector, detailing the number of vehicles and the length of the road network. It forecasts the growth of the sector up to 2025, including expected increases in vehicles and road infrastructure. The project then examines EV penetration targets in selected countries, particularly India, China, and Sri Lanka, offering a comparative perspective. Next, the project addresses Pakistan's electricity supply and demand, highlighting the short-term availability of surplus generation capacity to support EV growth. It also discusses the economic challenges Pakistan faces, including growing circular debt and increasing capacity payments in the energy sector. Additionally, the project forecasts the potential load on the grid due to EV adoption in the near term. The project also evaluates the impact of harmful emissions from the transportation sector on public health in Pakistan and projects the rising cost of petroleum imports if EV adoption remains minimal. It assesses the socio-economic costs of the current fossil fuel-based transportation system, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Through a case study, the project calculates the potential savings EVs can offer compared to their fossil fuel counterparts. Finally, the project identifies key government entities responsible for developing the EV value chain in Pakistan. It concludes with a set of policy recommendations for these entities, outlining their roles in fostering the growth of the EV ecosystem in the country.

This project aims to guide the development of DC-fast charging infrastructure on Pakistan's highways and motorways. The initial phase involved collecting daily traffic flow data from December 2019 to October 2020 on major routes, including N-5, M-1, M-3, M-4, M-5, and M-9. Data for M-2 was estimated through various methods, including physical observations and Google traffic maps. Based on this data, 85 optimal locations for charging stations were identified, with 15 prioritized for initial development. It is proposed that deploying 10 DC-fast chargers at each of these locations would suffice for short-term inter-city charging needs, given the current limited EV presence in Pakistan. However, as EV adoption increases, more infrastructure will be needed at the identified sites. A case study forecasts the growth of the 4-wheeler segment on M-2 until 2030, considering three EV adoption scenarios: 1%, 2%, and 3% of the annual vehicle increase being EVs. The projected EV traffic during peak hours in 2030 could range from 75 to 230 vehicles. To meet these demands, 3 to 8 DC-fast chargers would be required at each of the five proposed charging stations on M-2, assuming each charger can serve two vehicles simultaneously. The study also assumes that urban charging infrastructure will be well-established. A preliminary business model was developed based on the 2% EV growth scenario. Establishing DC-fast charging stations involves significant capital expenditures, and to encourage EV adoption, charging tariffs must remain low, leading to a slow return on investment. However, charging stations could attract customers to nearby businesses, and a profit-sharing model is suggested where these businesses share a percentage of their profits with charging service providers. Additionally, truck-mounted portable chargers could optimize underutilized capacity during off-peak hours by shifting to high-demand areas as needed.

The LUMS e-Mobility Research and Development Center, is a dedicated electric vehicle battery and motor testing project designed to contribute to the advancement of electric vehicle technology in Pakistan. The research center aims to help combat climate crises in Pakistan by reducing carbon footprint by eliminating vehicular exhaust emissions, faster adoption of electric vehicles, and decreasing fossil fuel imports. The research center facilitates the building of an indigenous electric vehicle market by offering battery and motor testing to develop electric vehicle prototypes. The performance and safety of the individual components of the electric vehicle including battery, motor, BMS, drive train efficiency, and the complete vehicle can be tested at the eMobility R&D Center, which gives information about the performance parameters of the developed prototype. To get insights into the implementation of electric vehicle technology on the road, the eMobility R&D Center is conducting a pilot project in Multan consisting of 20 electric vehicle rickshaws for public and commercial use. This pilot project is based on swappable batteries that enable drivers to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones to eliminate the charge time anxiety. The pilot project is running for one year and the batteries and the performance of the complete drive train are being monitored remotely. The results show that the EVs in the pilot project achieve 70-80 km per battery charge, resulting in energy savings of 11.09 MWh/month as compared to traditional LPG rickshaws. The CO2 emissions have decreased by 1.74 MT compared to an equivalent number of traditional rickshaws, highlighting the role of EVs in combating climate change. The case study on electric vehicle rickshaws compared to LPG-based rickshaws results in 53% CO2 emission savings and 79% energy savings.

The ZEV-UP project aims to develop modular, cost-effective, and user-centric EVs for both passenger and goods transportation. By leveraging innovative design and engineering techniques, ZEV-UP vehicles will be tailored to meet the specific needs of users in both developed and emerging markets, ensuring high levels of user acceptance and market uptake. By optimizing vehicle components for reduced material usage and enhanced structural properties, the project will achieve lighter vehicles with increased autonomy and minimized environmental impact. ZEV-UP will also develop digital-twin models to improve vehicle development efficiency and reduce validation costs, as well as design charging capabilities compatible with a variety of regional power systems. Novel business and usage models, such as Battery as a Service, will be explored to maximize the benefits. User-centric design, informed by market research and field interviews in both established and developing countries, will be a central focus of the project. Additionally, ZEV-UP will develop a proliferation model to assess policy intervention scenarios and strategize for short- and long-term EV uptake in various markets. By delivering these key results and adhering to its objectives, ZEV-UP will accelerate the transition to sustainable urban mobility and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.

In 2023, LUMS conducted a study on indigenizing Pakistan's EV value chain, focusing on two- and three-wheelers, which make up over 80% of the country's transport. The report suggests enhancing financing access, promoting gender equality, and identifying short- to long-term opportunities to boost EV adoption in Pakistan.

The project aims to boost electric vehicle (EV) adoption in Pakistan through a battery-swapping model, starting with an initial target of 4,000 electric three-wheelers to be deployed in Multan over five years. The charging station on the outskirts of the city will be solar powered and the batteries will be made available at various spots across the city, providing convenient battery-swapping access for local residents. This initiative seeks to promote sustainable urban mobility and reduce carbon emissions. Currently, the project’s technical, financial, and business models are under evaluation to ensure successful implementation and long-term sustainability of the project.

LUMS is working on a pilot project for swappable battery-based electric three-wheelers in Multan, Punjab, under the Power Sector Improvement Activity (PSIA). The project has deployed 20 electric rickshaws and set up two charging stations in high-demand areas. We are developing and testing data-driven financial models, including Mobility-as-a-Service and subscription models, to find the most effective strategies for adopting electric three-wheelers in Pakistan. The pilot is closely monitored to evaluate both the technical and financial feasibility of these vehicles.

In 2018, LUMS released the first policy recommendation plan for electric vehicles (EVs) in Pakistan. This comprehensive report explores the projected growth of the transportation sector through 2025, comparing it with EV penetration targets set by countries like India, China, and Sri Lanka. It also addresses the socio-economic challenges facing Pakistan and the health impacts of emissions from the transportation sector. The report identifies key government entities responsible for developing the EV value chain and concludes with a series of policy recommendations to guide these entities in building a successful EV ecosystem in Pakistan.