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

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.

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Pakistani rupee remains stable against US Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal and Dirham; Check forex rates

Pakistani rupee remained stable against the US dollar, and other currencies in the open market on Friday.

Dollar Rate in Pakistan Today

On Friday, the US dollar remained stable and was being quoted at 283.2 for buying and 286.15 for selling.

Euro comes down to 308 for buying and 311 for selling. British Pound rate dropped to 358.5 for buying, and 362 for selling.

UAE Dirham AED witnessed slight drop and new rate stands at 77.4 whereas the Saudi Riyal remained stable at 76.

Today's currency exchange rates in Pakistan - 8 December 2023

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

Currency Symbol Buying Selling
US Dollar ‎USD 283.2 286.15
Euro EUR 308 311
UK Pound Sterling GBP 358.5 362
U.A.E Dirham AED 77.4 78.1
Saudi Riyal SAR 76 76.8
Australian Dollar AUD 187.2 189
Bahrain Dinar BHD 757.23 765.23
Canadian Dollar CAD 209 211
China Yuan CNY 39.89 40.29
Danish Krone DKK 41.19 41.59
Hong Kong Dollar HKD 36.41 36.71
Indian Rupee INR 3.42 3.53
Japanese Yen JPY 1.39 1.45
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 921.71 930.71
Malaysian Ringgit MYR 61.02 61.62
New Zealand Dollar NZD 174.54 176.54
Norwegians Krone NOK 26.05 26.35
Omani Riyal OMR 739.62 747.62
Qatari Riyal ‎QAR 78.22 78.92
Singapore Dollar SGD 211 213
Swedish Korona SEK 27.12 27.42
Swiss Franc CHF 324.94 327.44
Thai Bhat THB 8.06 8.21

Gold prices in Pakistan increase; Check out latest rates here

Gold price in Pakistan increased as the yellow metal witnessed an upward trend in the international market.

Gold Rates in Pakistan Today - 8 December 2023

On Friday, the price of a single tola of 24-karat gold stands at Rs217,400 and 10 grams of 24k gold costs Rs186,390.

Single tola of 22 Karat Gold costs Rs199,282, 21 karat rate for per tola is Rs190,225 and 18k gold rate is Rs163,050 each tola.

In the global market, gold prices hover at around $2026, gaining $8.30 on Friday.

Today Gold Rate in Pakistan

Today Gold Price in Pakistan (8 December 2023)

City Gold Silver
Lahore PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Karachi PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Islamabad PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Peshawar PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Quetta PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Sialkot PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Attock PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Gujranwala PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Jehlum PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Multan PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Bahawalpur PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Gujrat PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Nawabshah PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Chakwal PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Hyderabad PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Nowshehra PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Sargodha PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Faisalabad PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583
Mirpur PKR 217,400 PKR 2,583

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