Daewoo Express is gearing up to transform inter-city transportation in Pakistan by introducing the country’s first Electric Vehicles (EVs) service. The company plans to roll out 200 electric buses in the next few years, along with 1,000 EV rickshaws specifically designed for Karachi and Lahore.
The General Manager, Sheriar Hassan, emphasized that beyond just incorporating advanced transport technology, the initiative aims to positively impact the Air Quality Index (AQI) by adopting green technology.
Daewoo Express is actively seeking significant financing, in the range of millions of dollars, from an Asia-based development funding agency to support these projects. Their target is to have EV buses operational on shorter routes, covering distances of up to 225 kilometers, starting from the summer of the following year.
These electric buses are slated to operate on 17 short routes, connecting key cities such as Karachi to Hyderabad, Peshawar to Rawalpindi, Lahore to Faisalabad, and Lahore to Sialkot. While specific details on fares are pending confirmation due to fluctuating electricity prices, Daewoo Express has plans to install charging stations at all terminals.
The company is currently in talks with various Chinese bus manufacturers to acquire electric buses and has even hinted at the possibility of delving into electric bus manufacturing if the initial project proves successful. Moreover, Daewoo Express has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sazgar Engineering to manufacture 1,000 electric rickshaws for a ride-hailing service in Karachi and Lahore.
This initiative not only represents a leap into modern and eco-friendly transportation for Pakistan but also showcases a commitment to environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality in major cities.
