“Made in Pakistan” EV unveiled on Independence Day
The average Pakistani was quite disheartened before the country’s 75th independence day because our neighboring rival was launching an indigenously made EV while we were only making “Mili Naghmas”.
However, the scenario was changed when DICE Foundation, a U.S.-based non-profit organization run by Pakistani expatriates, announced building a “Made in Pakistan” EV with support from local academia and industry.
This is huge news as it signals a turning point in Pakistan’s automobile industry. Until now, neither electric nor internal combustion engine vehicle has been completely made in Pakistan. Our industry is based on imported parts and their assembling.
The Electric Vehicle revealed has been named Nur-E 75, and its parent company is named JaXari (named after the Muslim scientist from the 12 century, Ismael al-Jazari).
The vehicle is a 5-door, 5-seater hatchback with a battery size of 35 KwHr. This battery pack was developed with the help of the academia of NED university Karachi and the chargers were developed by a team from Sir Syed University.
The battery pack takes 7 to 8 hours to charge when charged using a regular 220V outlet, and only 2 hours when charged with a fast DC charger. However, attempts are being made to improve charging speed.
When fully charged the Nur-E 75 will be able to cover 210+ KMs. Moreover, the electric hatchback will be able to display a peak power of 107 hp and a peak torque of 200 Nm.
The interior of the car is quite stylish compared to other budget electric hatchbacks that have been imported to Pakistan such as the Rinco Aria and or the much-rumored Changan Lumin Corn mini EV.
The electric hatchback has a wheel size of R16 205 / 55 which is a typical size for most of the hatchbacks of this category. The design concept was developed by a group of researchers from the National College of Arts (NCA).
The Nur-E 75 is currently a prototype and the company is looking forward to raising capital through Series A, B, and C rounds of funding. According to Dice Foundation Chairman Dr. Khurshid Qureshi, the electric hatchback will be available for the public by 2024.
He also claimed that the company is looking forward to launching electric sedans and SUVs in the near future. He described the unveiling of Nur-E 75 as a milestone in Pakistan’s automotive industry.
Furthermore, Dr. Qureshi believes that if Pakistan is able to grab this opportunity the company will not only be able to make cars for its market but also export to other countries.