PAMA warns against outdated EV batteries, calls for safer tech in Pakistan’s electrification drive

The Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) has urged the government to block the use of unsafe and outdated battery technologies in electric vehicles (EVs), warning that subsidies spent on such products would erode consumer trust and undermine Pakistan’s environmental goals.

PAMA Director General Abdul Waheed Khan said on Wednesday that despite government support, EV buyers in Pakistan still pay large amounts out of pocket, only to receive vehicles fitted with unreliable batteries.

Khan noted that more than 90% of locally sold electric two-wheelers are powered by lead-acid batteries with a superficial graphene coating. “This practice is nothing but a deception, as these so-called graphene batteries are not commercially available anywhere in the world,” he stated.

The association highlighted that no local manufacturer offers more than a 24-month warranty on these batteries, compared with five years or more for lithium-ion batteries, which are globally recognized for their safety and performance.

The warning comes after the federal government rolled out the Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) Programme 2025–30, a revenue-neutral scheme expected to provide Rs122 billion in subsidies across the auto sector. The initiative, funded by up to a 3% levy on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, stipulates that only EVs using lithium or other advanced battery technologies will qualify for subsidies.

Khan accused vested interests of spreading misinformation, including distortions of global EV production data, in an attempt to protect substandard products. He stressed that the government must resist such pressure and ensure that scarce national resources are allocated only to proven and safe battery technologies.

“Consumers should not be compelled to buy vehicles fitted with poor-quality batteries marketed under the guise of advanced technology,” he said. “It is crucial to provide accurate information, because misleading figures damage both the auto industry and the public.”