Staff Reporter
Islamabad
US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCAS-E) at National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), and Jolta Electric, a designer, developer, manufacturer and assembler of Electric Vehicle kits in Pakistan, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration vis-à-vis provision of technical assistance for indigenous development of Lithium Ion Batteries & Supercapacitor Cells for Electric Vehicles (EVs). Held at the Islamabad campus of the university, the MoU signing ceremony was graced by the presence of Mr Malik Amin Aslam, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Climate Change. Mr Muhammad Azim, Chairman Jolta Group, and Dr Adeel Waqas, Principal & Dean USPCAS-E-NUST, signed the MoU on behalf of Jolta and NUST respectively.
Under the MoU, a dedicated Energy Storage Lab will be established at USPCAS-E NUST. Headed by Associate Professor Dr Naseem Iqbal, the lab will focus on R&D activities for the development of Li-ion Batteries and Supercapacitors for EVs. The understanding is also in line with the approved National Electric Vehicles Policy (NEVP), aimed at seeing electric vehicles capture 30% of the market. EVs can contribute significantly to the low carbon future.
Advisor to the PM on Climate Change, Mr Malik Amin Aslam, acknowledged NUST’s contributions towards finding indigenous solutions to social and industry problems. He also commended the university for being the first in Pakistan to transfer technology to the industry. He said that the MoU is a step towards indigenisation of Electric Vehicle manufacturing and will enable Pakistan to become part of the global value chain in the field of Electric Vehicles, which he termed “future of the world.”
