Dubai to double its number of electric vehicle chargers

Dubai will increase its electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure by doubling charging stations to 200 as the emirate hopes to row its hybrid and EV market.

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) said on Thursday that it was ready to begin the second phase of the emirate’s Green Charger initiative to help slash carbon emissions by 16 per cent by 2021.

“Dewa aims to encourage people to use sustainable transportation of hybrid and electric vehicles, to help reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector, which is the second highest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in Dubai,” said Saeed Al Tayer, Dewa’s managing director and chief executive.

The EV charging initiative was launched in 2014 with the first 100 stations completed in just over a year. At least 2 per cent of government vehicles must be hybrid or electric by 2020, increasing to 10 per cent by 2030.

The Dewa stations aren’t just for government use but also encourage residents in Dubai to tap the alternative-fuelled cars. Public stations cost customers 29 fils per kWh to charge their cars. For example, a Renault EV will cost Dh7 for a full hour allowing the owner to drive 130 kilometres.

Mr Al Tayer said: “The electric vehicles are attracting a big number of people, due to their financial savings in addition to the use of zero-emission vehicles that keep the environment clean and sustainable.”

Dubai is aspiring to be the region’s gateway for the electric vehicle industry. The US automaker Tesla launched in the UAE last month with Supercharger stations at Last Exit in Jebel Ali and Masdar City in Abu Dhabi and another five planned before the end of the year.

Follow The National's Business section on Twitter