Electricity solely powers the new Chinese-made transport, setting it apart from its clunky gasoline-powered predecessors.

Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa agrees that electric cars are the future, and said goodbye to smoke-burping, ear-blasting motorcycle rickshaws and say hello to the Zar Motors Z5.

Electricity solely powers the new Chinese-made transport. Seven hours plugged into a standard outlet gives power for about 120 kilometers. A two-hour rapid charge for over 60km. Z5 holds the charge as equipped with solar panels on its rooftop adding more kilometers.

The new rickshaw has room for a driver and 3 passengers. Setting it apart from its heavy gasoline-powered predecessors it has 2 headlights, a digital instrument cluster, and cup holders, and comes with a stylish metallic paint job.

Malik Shah Mohammad Wazir, assistant to the province’s CM said that new economically workable automobiles will save foreign exchange and gasoline.

Many Pakistanis have turned to private cab services with rising gasoline prices and limited mass transit. Banks have reduced interest rates on cars to attract customers, and construction of the CPEC will contribute more to carbon footprint. Pakistan is expected to emit more than 1.6 billion tons carbon a year by 2030.

Zahid Hamid, climate change minister said Pakistan is not likely to reduce its carbon footprint to targeted 20% without $14 billion every year to acclimatize to climate change impacts.

In the interim, not everyone is impressed with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s new electric vehicles.

“These rickshaws are really slow like the turtle in a race when you are riding it, even old car in poor condition drive past you”, criticized one passenger.

A mechanical engineer in Lahore explains why they are slow “Electric-powered engine will not produce the power required to carry load on the steep roads of Pakistan. It is good to get environmentally friendly vehicles, but still, work needs to be done too.”