Teslas welcome on our streets

Sustainable energy is a national goal that begins with the way we transport ourselves

The appearance of American tech pioneer Elon Musk at the World Government summit in Dubai this week attracted a lot of attention, as did his announcement that a sales point and service centre for his Tesla electric vehicles would be opened in Abu Dhabi. Indeed, Tesla and the UAE make a formidable combination: a country determined to unravel its reliance on fossil fuels and embrace sustainable energy, and a company that is producing and popularising vehicles that will do just that.

And while Tesla cars will soon be on sale there are some concerns, including the availability of charging stations, the reliability and safety of the cars’ batteries (which, Mr Musk says, have been tested in extremely hot temperatures) and the cost of running the vehicles. While it is estimated that filling up a premium sedan will cost Dh37 using electricity compared to almost Dh100 with petrol, the cars themselves are expensive. The basic price for the Tesla Model S will be Dh275,000 – a significant premium on, say, a petrol-driven Lexus costing Dh150,000.

One important thing to remember about electric vehicles is that they are only as “green” as the electricity supply that powers them. While they do not have petrol-burning engines, they may be powered by electricity that is generated by burning oil or coal, depending on where they are used. With the UAE introducing nuclear power into its energy mix, and experimenting with other renewable sources, electric cars may truly come into their own.

Their ultimate success will come when a range of vehicles are available from different manufacturers at prices to suit every potential buyer. Since this is a country of early adopters, we do expect to see quite a few Teslas on our roads in coming months. And while we welcome the technology, it is worth pointing out that electric vehicles are not the complete solution to sustainable and “green” transport. Forty people travelling on a public bus – especially if it is a hybrid or electric bus – is more efficient and environmentally friendly than one person in a car.