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Going Hybrid? We might want you to sit down for this

Sarfraz Ali 07:36 PM | 7 Jun, 2022
Going Hybrid? We might want you to sit down for this

Yes, we have heard the age old narrative that hybrid cars are economically feasible, eco-friendly, and give better mileage. However,  the fact remains that it is an expensive decision to the point of being an overpriced decision from the word go. The upfront cost of owning a hybrid car is high as it is but maintenance and the upkeep itself can cost you a fortune.

From the outside, it may seem like the more responsible decision to protect our environment, but in reality, it damages our surroundings in more ways than one by using up a large amount of energy and resources. It is a trend that began with a bang but is about to die its long-awaited death.

In a country such as Pakistan, where the majority of our electricity is produced using fossil fuels and imports exceed $70 billion, it isn’t economically and financially feasible for the government to provide duty or tax concessions for expensive technologies such as hybrids, vehicles whose payback is as high as over 7 years or 200,000 km. Take a look at the table below to understand how that happens.

 

Hybrid cars are usually manufactured with the objective of improving fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. The designers and engineers are required to design each part of the car to meet these requirements. This is why hybrid vehicles are fitted with low friction tires and a more efficient air-conditioning system among other things, which add a lot of extra weight to the car. These affect the overall performance of a hybrid vehicle.

Because of the complexity of their engineering and manufacturing, hybrid vehicles are comparatively more expensive than their ICE counterparts. They come with one or more electric motors, a large battery pack, and an enhanced cooling system. All of this added technology in a hybrid car can greatly impact maintenance costs. This can go even higher if the car is involved in an accident and sustains damage.

That’s not all. Hybrid car insurance is $41 more expensive per month than the average car insurance rate in America. This is because of the increased purchasing price of hybrid vehicles, the nature of most hybrid buyers, and the cost of complex hybrid technology.

Hybrid cars work best in warmer climates and are best suited for city-wide usage. You can’t use it for long-distance travel which defeats the entire purpose of covering more distances using less energy. However, with their level of complexity, extra weight, and high price points, it might not be the most feasible purchase to make. For all we know, it is about to become a myth, a thing of the past, really soon.

Sarfraz Ali
Sarfraz Ali

The author is working as Editor Digital Media for Daily Pakistan and can be reached @ItsSarfrazAli.

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Today's currency exchange rates in Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal rates on March 30, 2023

KARACHI - Following are the foreign currency exchange rates for US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound Sterling, U.A.E. Dirham, European Euro, and other foreign currencies in Pakistan open market on March 30, 2023 (Thursday).

Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)

Currency Symbol Buying Selling
US Dollar ‎USD 283.6 286.65
Euro EUR 305.5 308.5
UK Pound Sterling GBP 348 351.5
U.A.E Dirham AED 77 77.7
Saudi Riyal SAR 75.5 76.3
Australian Dollar AUD 187.5 189.9
Bahrain Dinar BHD 753.99 761.99
Canadian Dollar CAD 206 208.2
China Yuan CNY 41.25 41.65
Danish Krone DKK 41.26 41.51
Hong Kong Dollar HKD 36.11 36.46
Indian Rupee INR 3.45 3.56
Japanese Yen JPY 2.15 2.22
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 925.67 934.67
Malaysian Ringgit MYR 62.85 63.45
New Zealand Dollar NZD 175.57 177.58
Norwegians Krone NOK 26.33 26.63
Omani Riyal OMR 736.34 744.35
Qatari Riyal ‎QAR 77.92 78.62
Singapore Dollar SGD 209.5 211.5
Swedish Korona SEK 26.5 26.8
Swiss Franc CHF 308.25 310.75
Thai Bhat THB 8.28 8.43

Today's gold rates in Pakistan – 30 March 2023

KARACHI - The price of a single tola of 24-karat gold in Pakistan is Rs 207,700 on Thursday.The price of 10 grams of 24k gold was recorded at Rs178,070.   

Likewise, 10 grams of 22k gold were being traded for Rs163,624 while a single tola of 22-karat gold was being sold at Rs 190,880.

Note: The gold rate in Pakistan is fluctuating according to the international market so the price is never been fixed. The below rates are provided by local gold markets and Sarafa Markets of different cities.

City Gold Silver
Lahore PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Karachi PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Islamabad PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Peshawar PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Quetta PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Sialkot PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Attock PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Gujranwala PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Jehlum PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Multan PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Bahawalpur PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Gujrat PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Nawabshah PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Chakwal PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Hyderabad PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Nowshehra PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Sargodha PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470
Faisalabad PKR 207,700 PKR 2,470

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