Electric vehicles charged up for trip
dubai — Advocates of electric vehicles (EVs) are out to prove that EVs can go on a long road trip, while also searching for the most efficient EV.
The third edition of Electric Vehicle Road Trip (EVRT) Middle East will see 12 EVs going on an eight-day journey covering 2,000km across the UAE and Oman.
The expedition, which will start in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, will involve around 60 roadtrippers in Teslas, Chevrolet Bolts and Renault Zoes. Participating teams will be judged based on time and battery efficiency during the entire trip.
This year’s EVRT event will be launched during the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi on January 17. There will also be an EV drag race at Yas Marina Circuit on the same day before going on a 520-km road trip from Abu Dhabi to Muscat on January 18.
The convoy will then go on a tour of Muscat before going to Ras Al Khaimah on January 21. The event will conclude with an eMobility forum and festival in Dubai’s Sustainable City on January 24.
Ben Pullen, managing director of Global EVRT, said: “EVRT Middle East is growing from strength to strength each year, and that is really a reflection of the progress being made in the region to transition to electric vehicles and smarter mobility.
“It’s an exciting time in the automotive industry due to so many new EVs being launched worldwide, and many of those products are arriving here in the GCC this year. And it’s not only the electric vehicle products that are improving, but also the infrastructure that has been expanding over the last 12 months. We will be rolling out more charging stations across the eight-day road trip with our charging partner GreenParking,” he added.
When asked regarding the safety of EVs on long trips, Pullen told Khaleej Times: “Some of the latest electric cars have won awards for safety. I can’t comment too much on awards but what I can say is that driving an electric car makes me feel like I have so much more control of my driving.”
He explained: “The regenerative breaking does that. When I accelerate, the car moves, and when I stop accelerating, a natural break (unlike anything you’ve experienced in a petrol car) kicks in and slows the car down.
“Add to that the low centre of gravity and instant torque and you have a car that’s perfectly synced with your brain. Compare that to a noisy, high revving, internal combustion engine and it makes you wonder why you’d ever drive non-electric,” Pullen added.