Super Power has a dominant position in
2-wheeler market since more than a decade. Now, the company has just unveiled two
electric vehicles (EV) at the My Karachi Expo 2017 and plans to officially
launch the EVs in coming months.
The cars are being imported from China and with zero
emissions, can travel at a speed of up to 55 km/h with a range of 120 km in a
full charge and takes up to 7 hours to completely charge the battery. The EVs
can be charged via a normal domestic electric socket. The two-door version will
cost somewhere between PKR 5.0 to 6.0 lac while the 4 door version will cost
around PKR 6.5 to 7.5 lac.
The two-door car comes with a black interior and has
a storage box located outside the car at its rear end, since there is literally
no space inside other than 2 seats. The four-door version looked roomier and
can seat 4 passengers; it has beige color interior and is also equipped with a
small sunroof. Both the vehicles come with air-conditioning and power windows
as standard.
Both the EVs on display were left hand driven
models, so it will be really interesting to see if the vehicles that are
actually going to be launched are right hand driven models.
The ones displayed by Super Power are actually
called LSEV (Low Speed Electric Vehicles) that are manufactured in China by not
less than a hundred manufacturers. They are extremely popular since most models
are very compact, resembling golf buggies, they are easy to park and take very
little space.
It is also quite interesting to know that in China
until recently, most LSEVs did not even have a license plate. Before October
2016, there were no rules governing the manufacture or use of LSEVs whatsoever.
But now, the Chinese government has announced its intention to oversee the
sector, and these LSEVs are set to play a major role in China’s rapid
urbanization.
By controlling and overseeing the LSEVs, Chinese
government will be able to raise the standards, which will not only benefit
consumers and boost LSEV sales in China, but also help manufacturers to reach
into export markets. Chinese government’s decision to oversee the production of
LSEVs shows that China is serious about steering the development of low-carbon
mobility, not just at home but all around the world.
Super Power’s decision to introduce the LSEVs in
Pakistan is indeed a bold step. However considering the price, which is
tentative as of yet, it looks a bit towards the higher side. According to
company’s chairman Haji Younus Pirani, negotiations with the government are
underway. If the duties are set low, a vast majority of Pakistan’s middle-class
will benefit from an affordable yet economical transportation.