KARACHI: Two of the most prominent features of the recently concluded Pakistan Auto Parts Show (PAPS) were a tracker device for two- and three-wheelers, and hybrid rickshaws.

Arshad Ghaffar, the CEO of Moto Track Private Ltd which introduced the country’s first tracker for motorcycles and rickshaws, told Dawn that the price of imported tracker device is Rs3,450 and service charges are Rs1,500 per year. “It would be affordable for both lower- and middle-class customers.”

“We are in talks with two leading bike assemblers for installation of our device,” he said. “We aim to tackle the rising theft of motorcycles in Pakistan.”

He urged the government to pass a law that every motorcycle to be sold in 2015 must have a tracker installed before registration.

Naveed Iqbal, a senior manager of the company, said the unit is waterproof, constantly connected via GPRS and can run for eight hours on its own battery.

“Each motorcycle outfitted with our tracker will also contain a hidden easily accessible panic button located at the throttle, which will send SOS signals with locations to police headquarters in case of an emergency,” he said.

“SOS signals and theft will appear as a red dot and can be dealt with appropriately by the officers in the area.”

HYBRID RICKSHAW: The rickshaw, priced at Rs300,000, can be fully charged through a normal electric socket in seven hours, said Muhammad Ayaz, the director of Green Wheels Private Ltd. However, the rickshaw can charge the batteries from its own alternator generator much faster while running on petrol engine.

Once fully charged, the vehicle can travel 40 to 50km and can reach speed of up to 50km per hour.

Currently, these rickshaws are being imported from China. However, Ayaz said, “If the product works out, the company would think about its assembly and transfer of hybrid technology to Pakistan.”

The company also has the solutions to convert a normal rickshaw into a hybrid one by installing special conversion kit from GW Hybrid, he said.

He requested the federal and provincial governments to support this new hybrid technology “for the benefit of the common people”.

“We also plan to launch hybrid bikes and small low-prized hybrid cars in the near future,” he added.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2015

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