NUR-E 75: Pakistan's first electric vehicle, makes its premiere.

 On Independence Day, Pakistan's first electric vehicle prototype, known as the NUR-E 75, was displayed (August 14, 2022).

The battery in the car will have a 35kWh capacity. The car can go 210 kilometres after being fully charged.

The car will save a significant amount of fuel, contribute to the fight against climate change, and maintain economic prosperity, claims Dr. Khurshid Qureshi, founder and chairperson of the Distinguished Innovation, Collaboration & Entrepreneurship (DICE) Foundation, which created and developed the prototype.

A non-profit organisation with a US presence called DICE Foundation is administered by Pakistanis living abroad in the US, the EU, and other countries, with assistance from regional businesses and academic institutions.

Dr. Qureshi, a recognised authority on creating autonomous vehicles, claimed that the production of the car has three stages: the first involved industrial design, production, and launch; the second involved expanding production to include sedan and SUV, small commercial trucks, and EV platform export; and the third involved exporting the cars.

The fully functional prototype, EV NUR-E 75, is ready for testing and regulatory approval, he said, adding that production started in 2019. Meanwhile, design work on a rolling platform that will be used for various vehicle segments is in progress.

As he described the five-seater hatchback's many attributes, he noted that it had a maximum power of 80 kW (108 horsepower), a battery capacity of 35 kWh, and a range of 210 km with the air conditioner off.

According to him, the totally electric vehicle has a top speed of 120 km/h, 16-inch tyres, a 190mm ground clearance, and a 220V charging capacity that takes eight hours, with quick charging also an option.

He emphasised that the vehicle, given to Pakistan as a gift for its diamond jubilee, would play a significant role in the context of the environment and climate change and help us transition away from the use of non-renewable fuels.

"Once it hits the market in the fourth quarter of 2024, this innovation will be a game changer both for Pakistan's economy and for the well-being of the country's average population, and I can't stress that enough,".

For the past 15 years, the DICE Foundation has worked in Pakistan to support innovation, develop competence, and turn brain drain into brain gain. The organisation, which was founded in 2007, focuses on the automotive, health, agricultural, energy, creative arts, and textile industries.

DICE is a strategic effort of the DICE Foundation, USA, with the goal of promoting an entrepreneurial and innovative culture throughout the nation. It is an umbrella programme that now houses a number of significant platforms.

The basic goal of each of these platforms is to ignite the innovation cycle that the nation needs for progress, prosperity, and sustainable development.