The Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) has urged the government to take action against the use of deceptive graphene-coated lead-acid batteries in electric vehicles (EVs). The association warned that promoting such outdated technologies could damage consumer confidence and derail Pakistan’s clean energy goals.
Consumers Paying High Prices for Unreliable EVs
PAMA Director General Abdul Waheed Khan said that despite government incentives, local EV buyers still spend large sums only to receive vehicles fitted with low-quality and unreliable batteries.
Fake “Graphene” Batteries Dominate Local Market
Khan revealed that more than 90% of locally sold electric bikes use lead-acid batteries falsely marketed as “graphene.” He added that genuine graphene batteries are not commercially available anywhere in the world, calling the practice a “complete deception.”
Lithium-Ion Batteries Offer Proven Safety and Longevity
According to PAMA, these substandard batteries usually come with a maximum warranty of two years, while globally trusted lithium-ion batteries offer five years or more of reliable performance and safety.
PAVE Programme to Support Genuine EV Technologies
The warning coincides with the government’s launch of the Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) Programme 2025–30 — a Rs122 billion initiative funded by a levy on petrol vehicles. The scheme specifies that only EVs powered by lithium-ion or other advanced batteries will qualify for subsidies.
Call for Transparency and Consumer Protection
Khan also accused certain groups of spreading false information to protect inferior products. He urged the government to ensure that national resources are directed only toward safe and proven technologies. “Consumers deserve honesty, not gimmicks disguised as innovation,” he emphasized.
