DUBAI // More than 200 hybrid taxis will be on Dubai’s roads by the end of the year, the Roads and Transport Authority said, and the number is set to grow because of cost savings, improved fuel efficiency and reduced maintenance.
Even before the Government announced plans last week to scrap fuel regulation, cab companies had decided to add to their hybrid fleets.
Cars Taxi last month acquired 55 more hybrids, taking its fleet to 100, while the Dubai Taxi Corporation has 69 and will add 30 by December.
Concern about rising fuel costs may prompt public transport authorities to purchase more hybrids over the long-term, experts said.
“I don’t think there will be a major shift in purchase in the short-term, but it will become a strong factor,” said Eyad Trabulsi, senior consultant operations with Burj Park management company.
“It’s a good idea because of cost saving and the amount of time taxis spend in traffic.”
There are 177 hybrid taxis in Dubai, said Ahmad Al Suwaidi, chief executive of the RTA’s Dubai Taxi Corporation, the emirate’s largest taxi operator.
“A hybrid vehicle performs at its optimum in heavily congested traffic,” he said.
“This is because at slower speed only the electric motor propels the vehicle.” The fuel cost saving was about 29 to 31 per cent per taxi per year and fuel efficiency also improved by about 30 per cent, as per RTA figures.
“The advantages are better fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions,” he said. “The braking system of a hybrid requires less maintenance, resulting in less wear and tear.”
Al-Futtaim Motors, distributor of Toyota in the UAE, said it was in discussions with several fleet operators.
“In addition to the 55 hybrid Camry for Cars Taxi, we have had orders from other fleet operators,” said Jon Williams, managing director of Al-Futtaim.
“We are also in the final stages of discussion with new taxi companies which will see this figure increase.”
Hybrids do not require charging stations like plug-in vehicles. Instead, the Toyota hybrids are a combination of an electric motor and a combustion engine.
Sales growth could pick up as awareness spreads.
“One of the key drivers is the low total cost of ownership, which translates into lower maintenance costs, less wear and tear and, of course, less fuel consumption,” Mr Williams said.
More hybrid taxis could also mean calmer roads, Mr Trabulsi said.
“Apart from the environmental and cost benefit, there is a social benefit, because hybrid vehicles are not as powerful as regular ones when you accelerate. So from a commuter’s perspective, it will be a good check for aggressive taxi drivers.”
rtalwar@thenational.ae
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Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FIGHT CARD
1. Featherweight 66kg
Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg
Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg
Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg
Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg
Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg
Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg
Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg
Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)
9. Featherweight 66kg
Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
Company Profile
Company name: Cargoz
Date started: January 2022
Founders: Premlal Pullisserry and Lijo Antony
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 30
Investment stage: Seed
The five pillars of Islam
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Company Profile
Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
Funding: $200,000 plus undisclosed grant
Investors: Venture capital and government
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Haltia.ai
Started: 2023
Co-founders: Arto Bendiken and Talal Thabet
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: AI
Number of employees: 41
Funding: About $1.7 million
Investors: Self, family and friends
Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
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Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
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TWISTERS
Director:+Lee+Isaac+Chung
Starring:+Glen+Powell,+Daisy+Edgar-Jones,+Anthony+Ramos
Rating:+2.5/5
Oppenheimer
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr, Florence Pugh, Matt Damon
Rating: 5/5
Results
5pm: UAE Martyrs Cup (TB) Conditions Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Mudaarab, Jim Crowley (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer).
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Richard Mullen, Hassan Al Hammadi.
6pm: UAE Matyrs Trophy (PA) Maiden Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Salima Al Reef, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Apprentice Championship (PA) Prestige Dh100,000 1,600m
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7pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (IFAHR) Ladies World Championship (PA) Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
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Winner: Mashhur Al Khalediah, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, Phillip Collington.