Electric cars will become increasingly commonplace in Dubai as the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority's (DEWA) Green Charger initiative, begun in 2014, continues to fall into place in three stages, with charging stations planned at strategic locations throughout the UAE.
Mindful of the need to shift the nation’s dependence on traditional fossil fuels, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, launched the Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative in 2012 to pave the way for the emirates to emerge as a global leader in alternative transportation modes.
Al Maktoum’s program includes policies related to energy, agriculture, construction, environment and finance as well as transportation. The use of hybrid and electric transportation is expected to reduce Dubai’s carbon emissions by nearly one-fifth (19 percent) and strive toward goals outlined by UAE Vision 2021 and Dubai Plan 2021 to render Dubai a “smart, integrated and connected city.”
DEWA has pledged full support of the program with plans to convert to electric-powered cars, stay on point as technology further evolves and encourage sustainable transportation for the general population. DEWA became Dubai’s first government agency to use electric cars when it purchased eight vehicles for its own use in October 2015.
To supply vehicles with electric power, DEWA will continue implementing the Green Charger initiative’s three phases. The first phase began in 2014 with 100 charging stations. The second stage will calibrate the additional number of stations required by analyzing customer usage and driving patterns, while the third stage will refine infrastructure improvements to enhance the stations’ functioning such as fast-charging sites, with some installed at gasoline stations and other charging stations positioned in malls, airports and other public areas.
"Our objective in the transition to become the smartest city in the world is to achieve the happiness of society and provide instant and seamless smart services, anytime, anywhere," DEWA Managing Director and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said. “Dubai has … become a leading global hub for competitiveness, green economy and sustainability. The Green Charger initiative will substantially contribute to … boosting the use of energy resources and reducing the Emirate's carbon footprint.”
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