Dubai extends free charging for electric cars for a year

Free fill-ups are aimed at encouraging motorists to consider the swap to an electric vehicle

Majid Al Hazami from Dewa charges a car at the electricity authority's headquarters in Garhoud, Dubai in February 2015. The government will allow electric car owners to charge for free until the end oShow more

Dubai motorists will be able to charge their electric vehicles free of charge for another year.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) announced the extension of the existing policy in an effort to encourage motorists to make the swap to electric vehicles and reduce carbon emissions.

Drivers will be able to charge their cars for free until December 31, 2021.

The initiative is available to non-commercial drivers who register for the EV Green Charger Initiative.

The scheme applies to public stations only. Drivers charging at home can still expect to see their usage reflected in their electricity bills.

“Dewa supports the Dubai Plan 2021 to make Dubai a smart, sustainable and innovative city in managing its resources, improving its quality of life, and consolidating its position as a global model for a green economy,” said Saeed Al Tayer, managing director of Dewa.

“Dewa seeks to increase the number of hybrid and electric vehicles in Dubai and reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector.”

In 2017, Dewa and the emirate's Roads and Transport Authority rolled out a series of incentives to promote the use of electric cars - as part of a goal to get 32,000 electric vehicles (EVs) on Dubai's streets by 2020. The free charging incentive has been in place since September 1, 2017, Mr Al Tayer said.

They included free parking, free charging, toll exemption and discounts on the plug-in car's registration.