Dubai unveils 16 car charging stations
100 such facilities for hybrid, electric vehicles by end of this year
Sixteen charging stations for hybrid and electric cars for public use were unveiled yesterday as part of transforming Dubai into the smartest city in the world.
Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, inaugurated a solar-powered charging station at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) head office. Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dewa, Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), were present.
“This station is an important step towards achieving the objectives of the sustainable smart city and transforming Dubai into the smartest city in the world,” Al Tayer said. He said 84 more charging stations are being planned and will be operational by this year.
Motorists may now drive up to 100km at a fraction of the cost of a petrolpowered car for less than Dh7 — that is if you own an electric vehicle (EV).
The costs and range of electric vehicles may vary, depending on the car make, load, and driving style, but the total expense will still be cheaper, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) officials said, which pegs the charging rate at 29 fils per kWh.
Dewa yesterday launched 16 charging stations in Dubai.
Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, unveiled the solar-powered charging station at the Dewa head office in the presence of Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dewa and Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority.
The initiative supports the Dubai Plan 2021 and the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to establish Dubai as a global hub for trade, finance, tourism and sustainability.
It is part of the three-pronged approach that Dewa is implementing, including connecting solar energy to houses and buildings, and smart applications through smart meters and grids. Eighty-four more charging stations will be launched by the end of 2015 on main highways, government buildings, malls, airports, parks, and landmarks.
Some of the stations will be solar-powered.
Hybrid or electric cars are relatively more expensive, depending on the make, compared to conventional cars, but the fuel efficiency of hybrid and electric cars and low to zero emissions may attract motorists.
According to the State of Charge report updated in 2014 by the Union of Concerned Scientists, an electric vehicle driver, for example, could save nearly $13,000 (Dh47,710) on fuel costs and use 23,091 fewer litres of petrol during the life of the vehicle compared to the current average compact petrol car.
The charging time at the stations in Dubai varies, Waleed Salman, Executive Vice-President of Strategy and Business Development at Dewa, said. Fast-charge stations will provide about 80 per cent charge after 40 minutes.
“Some of them charge for two hours, some for 40 minutes, but it all depends on their batteries and capacity. We can see cars that can run up to 200km. There are others that can run up to 300km,” Salman said.
Salman believes the low price of petrol in the UAE will not deter motorists from switching to electric vehicles because the latter has many advantages. Apart from being environmentfriendly and the cheap charging cost, electric cars don’t require regular maintenance that petrol engines do.
“You’re not going to do lubrication for the engine, no maintenance. The only maintenance required will be replacement for tyres, gears, and whatever is related to the movement of the car rather than the engine. More than 50 per cent of maintenance that we do with the normal car is not needed,” he said.