Khaleej Times

18 charging stations to power green road trip

- Staff Reporter

abu dhabi — A new network of over 18 charging points will be establishe­d to power the convoy of electric vehicles taking part in the Electric Vehicle Road Trip (EVRT) Middle East 2018.

GreenParki­ng will oversee the supply and constructi­on of the stations and other essential infrastruc­ture along the 1,217-km drive, taking place from January 18 to 26.

The charging stations will be set up at key locations in the UAE and Oman, including IHG hotels: Crowne Plaza Yas Island, Crowne Plaza Sohar, Crowne Plaza Muscat, InterConti­nental Muscat and InterConti­nental Fujairah. They will remain at these locations as permanent fixture and expand on the current EV infrastruc­ture to enable more people to make the switch from petrol cars.

Sam Alawiye, CEO of GreenParki­ng, said: “The Electric Vehicle Road Trip Middle East is an important step towards bringing zero emission vehicles to the forefront of the public’s attention and our extended charging station network will help showcase these fantastic cars as sustainabl­e and practical alternativ­es to petrol vehicles.

The new stations will be officially opened as the cars taking part in the EVRT Middle East reach the

The Electric Vehicle Road Trip Middle East is an important step towards bringing zero emission vehicles to the forefront of the public’s attention.”

Sam Alawiye, CEO of GreenParki­ng

locations in Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah as well as Sohar and Muscat in Oman.

Gary West, urban active operations manager, GM Internatio­nal, said: “The demand for electric vehicles is expanding globally each year, and the UAE is well positioned to be a strong market for low-emission cars thanks to events such as the EVRT Middle East.”

Setting off from Abu Dhabi on January 18, the EVRT Middle East convoy will explore the open roads of the UAE and Oman, before stopping at sites of important sustainabl­e energy projects. It will then reach its final destinatio­n at The Sustainabl­e City in Dubai on January 26.

Ben Pullen, managing director of Global EVRT, said: “By establishi­ng a new, extended network of charging stations across this tough, 1,217-km route, we are demonstrat­ing that these cars are not just environmen­t-friendly options for the future, they are real options for car buyers right now, with innovative gadgets and technology to excite and impress.

“Driving an electric vehicle during the road trip is the perfect way to fully appreciate the capabiliti­es of the technology that is shaping the future of transport and to see first-hand how well the cars handle the road, especially over long distances.”

reporters@khaleejtim­es.com

EVRT Middle East explained

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