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Technology

Nur-E 75: Pakistan’s first electric car prototype unveiled on Independence Day

  • Founder/chairman of DICE Foundation, designer and developer of the vehicle, says commercial production is expected to start from last quarter of 2024
Published August 14, 2022
Photo: Bilal Hussain/Business Recorder
Photo: Bilal Hussain/Business Recorder

KARACHI: DICE Foundation unveiled Pakistan’s first electric car, the ‘Nur-E 75’, on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day here at the Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi.

The car, labelled the country's first indigenous electric vehicle, has been designed and developed by DICE Foundation, a US-based non-profit organisation run by expatriate Pakistanis in the US, EU, etc. along with support from local academia and industry.

Chairman and founder of DICE Foundation, Dr Khurshid Qureshi, an expert on the development of autonomous vehicles, during a presentation said Pakistan has only imported innovation since its inception 75 years ago, while others such as South Korea and China have flourished by leaps and bounds during that period.

“South Korea learnt to make television from Japan and now it is making better TVs,” he said during the ceremony. “I cannot stress enough on the significance of this innovation and how it will be a game-changer both for Pakistan’s economy as well as for the well-being of the people.

“We have wasted enough time importing,” he said, adding that EVs were the future of the automotive industry.

Sharing details about the hatchback Nur-E 75, he said the car’s commercial production is expected to start from the last quarter of 2024. The company has been named Jaxeri after a Muslim scientist.

“This electric car will play a phenomenal role in the context of environment and climate change, and will help us move away from non-renewable fuel consumption. This prototype is a 5-seater hatchback, but we also have plans to develop a sedan and small SUV on the same platform,” said Dr Qureshi.

He also thanked all the partners who helped in the project, namely NEDUET, DSU, NCA, TEVTA Punjab, NUST, SSUET, Amreli Steels, PSG, and Kruddson Aluminum.

“Around $60-$80 million financing is needed for this project to complete.”

Unveiling ceremony

Dr Qureshi said by the time it is commercially produced, the car will have 60% locally manufactured parts, which will increase to 80% in the next few years.

He admitted that the country will continue to need raw materials such as lithium, used in electric batteries, which is produced by a handful of countries including China, Chile, Australia and Argentina.

“Even Tesla is importing batteries from China,” he said.

“Other auto companies only assemble cars here and only manufacture some parts while the designs are made by their parent companies abroad,” he said.

Pricing details and other features

Dr Qureshi was reluctant to share pricing details, but said vehicles in the same segment, Honda-E and Nissan Leaf, are priced at $40,000 and $35,000, respectively, “but Nur-E 75 price will be much lower than those”.

However, another official said people should not expect a car below a price tag of Rs2 million.

The car takes eight hours to get fully charged, and reached a top speed of 127km/h during trials. It can run 210 kilometers when fully charged.

Former Chairman of the Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts & Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) Mashood Khan said the country needs to promote indigenous cars.

“It is a great achievement that Pakistan has designed its own electric car. We should start now to be a part of the global race when electric vehicles begin to dominate by 2040,” said Khan.

Khan said that it was a timely initiative and stakeholders must support this project so that it becomes successful.

Comments

Comments are closed.

Rebirth Aug 15, 2022 02:45am
E-vehicles are the next cryptocurrency. All of this was a waste. They’ll find out when they realize they’d been copying a people who have only ever invested in defence and even at that, they’re not at par with the rest of the world powers. Example being hypersonic technology. Regenerative braking in hybrid electric vehicles is the only path forward. Sad to see another wasted effort and of course, waste of resources, time and energy. And I don’t use energy as a pun. They need to also understand that the electricity they’re going to be using for charging these vehicles will come from fossil fuels. This whole green tech thing was a consequence of the oil embargo fifty years ago. We’re all way past that now. Even the US claims to be a net exporter. So what’s the point?
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Muhammad ilyas Aug 15, 2022 08:09am
Proud of you ! Plz keep the good work up.
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Altaf Hussain Aug 15, 2022 08:28am
It is absolutely a big achievement and gave foundation to other new companies to participate in building the country. Nur E75 a big start for other followers. ALLAH BLESS and Help the Qureshi Saheb and his companions.
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Muhammad S Chaudhry Aug 15, 2022 09:27am
It’s a highly commendable initiative of a venturing Khurshid Khan particularly his involving so many associates for harnessing all local resources. Anything is possible through Commitment,vision and initiative
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Cydikay Aug 15, 2022 09:56am
Excellent news to celebrate 75 years of Independence of our beloved country. We must move forward n excel in this project n target more moving forward. Zindabad Pakistan ❤️
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Chander Aug 15, 2022 10:21am
2 million is expensive whereas in a busy schedule people wont have time to charge for eight hours and then just run 120 kms. This model seems to be a complete waste of time.
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Bilal Arshad Deo Aug 15, 2022 11:32am
First step is important modification and upgrading is part of innovation. Great job well done keep this spirit high. Some people even not happy with their own parents birth we cannot satisfy them so keep doing good job every next step is progress
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Muhammad Farhan Aug 15, 2022 11:47am
Where will the electricity to power these things come from? And what would be the overall impact of generating that much amount of power, if at all possible?
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Muhahmmad S Chaudhry Aug 15, 2022 12:15pm
I don’t agree with the comments of E birth as he seems to have a confused thinking. Firstly he has to understand that the key idea behind E vehicles is to manage Climate Change which is a big threat for our future generations even our planet. Secondly electricity used by these vehicles is not based on the fossil fuels but Lithium which is also available in our neighbourhood Afghanistan which the writer somehow failed to mention. My friend Dr Shahida Wizzaratt Dean Economics IOBM told about it her detailed article about mineral resources of Afghanistan. China is keen to tap it out for mutual benefit and we too can join in that venture
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Abdur Razzaq Gauhar Chairman PAAPAM Aug 15, 2022 12:44pm
Congratulations team DICE for taking a wonderful initiative of indigenously designed EV. PAAPAM offers it’s all out support in the localisation of its components and modules. Wishing best of successes for this project of NATIONAL CAR to bring in technology, business for local Autoparts industry, jobs for the Pakistani youth and economical cum luxury EV for the people of pakistan.
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Almas naeem Aug 15, 2022 01:13pm
Well done team Qureshi Sahab it's a big achievement for whole pakistani nation and although it's a great initiate to step in the new era
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Farooq Qureshi Aug 15, 2022 03:29pm
@Muhahmmad S Chaudhry , Lithium is used in the battery to store electrical power. The battery is charged by electricity. Currently in Pakistan roughly 64% of the electricity is generated by fossil fuels.
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Dr. Zeshan Hashmi Aug 15, 2022 05:15pm
Nice and also intrested to buy Pak Car
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Dr. Zeshan Hashmi Aug 15, 2022 05:16pm
Nice and also intrested
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Post Modernist Aug 15, 2022 10:40pm
Congratulations for the good news for our 75th anniversary of Independence. These days get to hear very few positive stories about Pakistan. So bravo and good luck. To put my money where my mouth is I would buy it as soon as it’s available!
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Ashfaq ahmad Aug 15, 2022 11:48pm
It's better step for middle standard people's pls carry on not left it stricts from the Govt thank u
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Iqbal Aug 16, 2022 08:25am
I agree with last comment. Electric power required to charge the batteries is generated from fossil fuels and a small amount is generated from renewable resources like wind, solar, etc. All of this energy is even not enough domestic use. So charging the batteries to rin these cars is not any green technology.
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Muhammad Imran Aug 16, 2022 09:34am
Proud to have you sir keep it up congratulations ❤️❤️❤️
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Khurram Aug 16, 2022 10:02am
Why are we afraid of producing bio diesel, gas and petrol, and what if excellent train service is provided running on solar and wind power.
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Saffi Aug 17, 2022 10:59am
Loxalisation is the only way to break thus vicious trap trade deficit, currency devaluation, IMF dependemce and gross inflation.
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