Audi, Siemens launch first ultra-fast charging station for electric vehicles in Pakistan

Are electric vehicles being charged at breakneck speeds? As incredible as that sounds, it is the goal of Audi and Siemens' ultra-rapid DC charging station, the first and only one of its kind in Pakistan, which was unveiled at the Libra Charging Hub in Saddar, Karachi.

According to Dawn, the technology is the result of a collaboration between two German behemoths, Audi and Siemens, and is expected to have a significant impact on the country's electric vehicle future. The super-fast EV charging station will be equipped with Siemens' SICHARGE D series chargers and will be capable of charging at speeds of up to 160kW.

Abdul Haseeb Khan, CEO of Libra Energy Solutions, requested a government subsidy to reduce the cost of charging electric vehicles in his welcome address. He also advocated for electric pole-mounted transformers (PMTs) along highways to allow for the installation of more such charging stations.

"That way, you'll be able to drive your EV from here to Murree easily," he explained.

According to Siemens-Pakistan CEO Markus Strohmeier, the technology represents Pakistan's first rapid charger capable of charging larger electric vehicles such as the Audi e-tron in just 15 minutes. It will only take four or five minutes for smaller vehicles.

The executive emphasized the importance of equipping highways with charging stations in order to facilitate Pakistan's EV revolution.

"Such charging stations are desperately needed on your highways. "It will be a small investment to see the cars move from city to city," he said, noting that there is plenty of undeveloped land alongside our highways that could be turned into solar farms.

Meanwhile, Germany's Ambassador to Pakistan, Hon. Bernhard Schlagheck, expressed his delight at being present at the inauguration of a development that exemplifies German innovation.

"The future is electric," declared the envoy. "In this day and age of climate change and global warming, we are learning this more and more. However, electromobility necessitates a corresponding infrastructure. "I'm glad to see another step in this direction being taken here."