Vehicle Rentals For Bakra Eid

Tags

advance payment, Animal markets, Bakra Eid, Light-weight commercial pick-ups, Mid-size trucks, newspaper, online classifieds, rickshaws, sacrificial animal, transportation company, transporting sacrificial animals

For many people, the highlight of the days leading up to Bakra Eid is visiting animal markets to find just the right sacrificial animal. Larger animal markets, which provide greater variety – in terms of the breeds and better prices – are usually located on the outskirts of the cities. As a result, transporting sacrificial animals from the market to your home can be a time-consuming and costly process.

The types of vehicles usually used to transport animals include:

Rickshaws. This is a viable option if you have a single goat or sheep to transport. Although rickshaws may not be the safest option they are the most cost-effective one.
Rental range: Rs 500-1,500

Going Green With Hybrids

Tags

Civic Hybrid, eco-friendly vehicles, Ferrari, Honda CR-Z, hybrid cars, hypercars, Jafer Khan, Lamborghini, McLaren, Toyota Prius

With an increased focus on environmentally-friendly vehicles, global car manufacturers are increasingly developing ‘hybrid cars’ which are powered by an electric motor and a standard combustion engine (also known as a hybrid engine). The electric motor does not require fuel and is powered by rechargeable batteries, while the hybrid engine is smaller and more fuel-efficient (compared to combustion engines offering similar power); this makes hybrids eco-friendly vehicles. As of this year, hybrid cars now account for approximately 10%* of the global vehicle market.

This move to go ‘green’ was not voluntary because of the higher cost of the equipment required during the design, research and performance testing of hybrid cars. Despite this, luxury automakers – including Ferrari, Lamborghini and McLaren – known for rolling out super and hypercars, are now focusing on hybrids. This is partially driven by the fact that an electric motor gives added horse power and torque.

Driving On Sunlight

Tags

C-Max Solar Energi, Ford, Fresnel lenses, Haroon Rasheed, high-efficiency solar panels, renewable energy, solar-powered cars, solar-powered golf carts, spiralling energy costs, tracking system monitors

Concerns about depleting fuel reserves, their damaging impact on the environment and spiralling energy costs have led automobile manufacturers to explore the commercial potential of vehicles using renewable energy. Taking the lead is Ford which is focusing on making solar-powered cars financially viable for the general public with the launch of its concept sedan, the C-Max Solar Energi.

This concept car uses 15 to 20 small Fresnel lenses attached to tall metal structures (with large surface areas) which are placed on top of high-efficiency solar panels installed on the roof of the car. The lenses capture sunlight and act as magnifying glasses, thus increasing the amount of energy that the panels can generate by almost eight times. This allows the car’s battery to be completely charged within six hours of direct exposure to the sun, and can power the car for nearly 38 kilometres.

2014 – The Year In Review

Tags

2014, Auto Industry Development Programme (AIDP) exports, cheaper competition, Competition Commission of Pakistan, customer-focused local production, decreased exports, economical category vehicles, Europe, fuel-efficient, high-end 1300cc and above, import of foreign vehicles, liberal car import policy, long-term policy framework, major car industry players, Mazhar M Chinoy, new car launches, open trade with India, Pakistan’s automobile industry, South East Asia, State Bank of Pakistan, taxation, value for money

As 2014 draws to a close, Pakistan’s automobile industry appears to have little to rejoice about. New car launches by the major industry players have generally disappointed customers in terms of value for money. This has been further exacerbated by their failure to cater to the fuel-efficient, economical 1000cc or under category of vehicles, myopically choosing to focus on the high-end 1300cc and above segment.  Consequently, 79% of all imported cars in 2014 belonged to the 1000cc or under category, an increase of 59% from 2013.

The industry took a further beating with a scathing report from the Competition Commission of Pakistan that called for a liberal car import policy from the government, including lifting of restrictions on the entry of new players from Europe and South East Asia. The State Bank of Pakistan also advocated the import of foreign vehicles in its report for 2013-14. These reports are likely to result in the government facilitating an increase in the number of imported vehicles, posing a bigger challenge for the industry in 2015.

Here Comes The Electric Rickshaw!

Tags

CECOS University in Peshawar, Clean Motion, CNG, Directorate of Science and Technology, Electric Rickshaw, Iqra University, LPG, Pakistan’s first concept electric rickshaw, Peshawar, rickshaw, seating capacity, Solect Hybrid, The Peshawar Transport Department, Zbee

Rickshaws are a common sight on Pakistan’s roads, providing a quick and cost-effective mode of transport to many people. However, spiralling LPG costs coupled with increasing shortages of CNG prompted engineering students at CECOS University in Peshawar to collaborate with Peshawar’s Directorate of Science and Technology and design Pakistan’s first concept electric rickshaw.

The CECOS rickshaw has a 1kW DC motor, powered by two dry-cell batteries and one solar panel. It has a top speed of 45 km/h. With a seating capacity of three, the rickshaw is fuelled by the energy generated from the solar panels during daylight hours; its engineers estimate that it can run for over six hours on a fully charged battery. The Peshawar Transport Department plans to upgrade the concept and bring it onto Peshawar’s roads in 2015.

This is not the first example of the auto engineering ingenuity of Pakistani students. Earlier this year, students from Iqra University in Karachi, developed the Solect Hybrid, a two-seater solar-powered rickshaw, fitted with a 1kW DC motor. The Solect Hybrid has four solar panels installed on its roof, and four lead-acid batteries, allowing it to run on steady speeds of 40 km/h for almost 20 hours without a recharge. Unfortunately, despite its higher specifications compared to the CECOS rickshaw and the fact that it is suited to run on congested roads, such as Karachi’s, the transport and energy authorities are yet to show any interest in starting commercial production.

Pakistan’s Car Bazaars

Tags

Block A North Nazimabad, car bazaars, Clifton, documents, engine, flag stolen vehicles, G-9 Markaz, gears, hi-roofs, Ibrahim Hyderi, insurance, Islamabad, Javaid Haider., Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Lahore, legal status, Mozang Road, Nadra, New Karachi, Pakistan, pay orders, Phase VIII DHA, pickup trucks, Punjab, Samanabad, shock absorbers, Sindh, Sunday Bazaars, suspension, taxes, third party commissions, used car dealers, Vehicle Verification portals, wagons

Are you on the lookout for a second-hand car that is in good condition at a reasonable price? Then consider visiting one of the many car bazaars that have mushroomed over the years across Pakistan.

These car bazaars are usually organised on a weekly or monthly basis. You can find a wide range of vehicles usually priced at 10 to 15% less than those offered by used car dealers, which also means that you will not have to pay third party commissions.

Although economy and mid-size cars (800-1200cc) are the hot-ticket items, you will also find wagons, pickup trucks and hi-roofs, with prices ranging between Rs 50,000 and 500,000. And if it is your lucky day, you can even drive away with a well-maintained, post 1990 sedan or luxury car, for less than a million rupees.

Technology And Pakistan’s Automobile Industry

Tags

7-gear transmission, airbags, cameras, Chinese sourcing options, complex electronics, Deletion Programme, electronic power steering, graphic map displays, HD video players, Honda, immobilisers, keyless entry, local manufacturers, locally assembled car, Mazhar M Chinoy, Most Favoured Nation (MFN), Pakistan’s automobile industry, techie gadgets, touch-enabled navigation systems, Toyota, traction control, used car import policies, vision cameras

Techie gadgets (HD video players, front and rear cameras and graphic map displays) usually found in used cars that are imported into Pakistan have put pressure on local manufacturers to install similar devices in their locally assembled cars.

While this has enriched the driving experience, any ensuing problems with such complex electronics require expertise in troubleshooting that is vastly expensive, if available within the local automobile services sector. However, despite these limitations, advancements like keyless entry, electronic power steering, 7-gear transmission, immobilisers and airbags are becoming commonplace, primarily in high-end cars locally marketed by manufacturers such as Honda and Toyota. Furthermore, advanced gadgets and features such as vision cameras, traction control, touch-enabled in-dash navigation systems and multimedia are now readily available as add-ons upon extra payment.

Tips For First Time Car Buyers

Tags

add-ons, aesthetics, automobile sector, banks, bargain, capital, CNG, cost, deal, disposable income, expenditure, expensive, financial obligations, financing, fine print, fuel specs, functionality, imported automobiles, insurance, job security, lawyer, loan, loan papers, long-term investment, low mileage, maintenance, new car, old car, owning, Pakistan, petrol, public transport, registration, reliability, resale value, spare parts, Tariq Ziad Khan, taxes, trackers, vet, well maintained

Due to an increasingly young workforce and an acute absence of quality public transport, Pakistan’s automobile sector is expected grow by approximately 15 to 18% this year.

Since purchasing a car is a major long-term investment for first time buyers, they should consider the following factors before deciding which car to buy.

New or old? Deciding whether to buy an old or a new car depends on knowing exactly why you are buying it. If you will use it mainly to get to work and back, then a used yet well-maintained car may be a good choice. However, if the entire family will use it for different purposes, then the reliability of a new car will offset its higher cost.

Owning or financing? First time buyers usually lack the capital to purchase a new car up-front, and have to commit to a five to seven year loan. Talk to multiple banks to get the best deal, read the fine print to understand your financial obligations, and ask a lawyer to vet the loan papers. Job security and a stable disposable income are important factors to consider if you choose to take on a long-term loan.

Aesthetics or functionality? If you plan to keep a vehicle for less than five years, look for models offering low mileage and high resale value. You should also calculate the extra cost of the add-ons and evaluate whether the additional expenditure will provide actual and not just aesthetic upgrades. Deciding the fuel specs is a crucial decision as well; petrol may be expensive, but wasting time in long CNG queues is also a hassle.

Revving Up For The Revo?

Tags

000, 000 units, 150 km/h, 2005, 2015, 80, 800cc engine, Adam Motors, assembled, Automobile Industry Development Programme, Automobile Policy, Ayesha Shaikh, Bangladesh, bankruptcy, conceived, designed, economy car, exports, Feroz Khan, government support, imports, India, Lahore, low-budget, middle income, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Auto Show, prime minister, radiator, relaunch, Revo, Rs 296, Rs 600, spacious, spare parts, taxation, top speed

At the 10th Pakistan Auto Show, which was held in Lahore last month, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed the importance of Pakistan regaining its status as one of 16 countries in the world where a car is conceived, designed, assembled and sold.

This announcement, along with reports that Pakistan’s first Automobile Industry Development Programme (AIDP), which is expected to facilitate local car production and assembly, will come into being soon, has sparked a debate on reviving the Revo – the first car designed and manufactured in Pakistan.

Revo was designed by Feroz Khan and manufactured by Adam Motors in 2005. It was priced at Rs 296,000. Features included an 800cc engine and a large radiator (unusual for an economy car) to prevent the engine from overheating during the Pakistani summer. Revo had a top speed of 150 km/h.

Outlook: Pakistan’s Automobile Industry In 2014

Tags

000 workers, 400, affordability, AIDP, Automobile Industry Development Programme, benefit, built-up cars, cheaper, economy, free trade, FY 2014-15, importers, India, industry leaders, liberalising, lobbying, local parts makers, manufacturing base, market leader, Maruti Suzuki, Mazhar M Chinoy, multi-million rupee, PAAPAM, Pak-Suzuki, Pakistan Association Of Automotive Parts And Assemblers, parts, policy makers, production, profits, sales, taxation, trade, vehicles

For many weeks, industry leaders have been huddling with policy makers in government to try and chalk out an increasingly elusive ‘win-win’ situation as the basis of a new Automobile Industry Development Programme (AIDP). The process has been tedious, with the government swayed by the powerful lobbying of car importers. No policy has come forth as yet and uncertainty is rife.

There are rifts within the industry as well. The Pakistan Association Of Automotive Parts And Assemblers (PAAPAM) is against liberalising trade with India, given that greater imports of cheaper parts from India is more likely to occur, rather than of built-up cars, thereby eating into profits of local parts makers. The case for free trade with India is led by the current market leader Pak Suzuki which seeks to benefit directly by importing parts from an equally large Maruti-Suzuki in India. PAAPAM fears this will put its 400,000 workers and a multi-million rupee industry into irreversible peril.