RTA, Al Futtaim Automotive to deploy 360 hybrid, electric vehicles

Image credit: WAM

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Al-Futtaim Automotive to deploy 360 hybrid and electirc vehicles, for use in Dubai’s key conferences and events over a three-year period.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the UITP Global Public Transport Summit in Barcelona by Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, and Paul Willis, president of Al-Futtaim Automotive, in the presence of several high-ranking officials from both organisations.

As part of the three year deal, Al-Futtaim Automotive will supply a total of 360 vehicles. These include 250 electric vehicles, and 100 hybrid vehicles, and 10 electric buses. Al-Futtaim Automotive will also provide the necessary infrastructure for electric charging that includes 10 electric charging units capable of both direct and alternating current. The deal also includes technical support for operational activities, electric mobility, and advanced technology utilisation specific to the electric fleet.

The agreement is in line with the emirate’s ‘Zero-Emissions Public Transportation in Dubai 2050′ strategy, which complements Dubai’s D33 economic agenda and works towards the UAE’s net zero by 2050 national objective.

Electric vehicles for net zero future

Al Futtaim Automotive is RTA’s official mobility partner and will also provide assistance for further building the authority’s electric charging technology and infrastructure.

Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said, “The partnership supports the UAE’s efforts to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, a goal that is consistent with the objectives of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. This agreement forms part of implementing the ‘Zero-Emissions Public Transportation in Dubai 2050′ strategy aimed at fully transitioning all buses, taxis and limousines to zero-emissions vehicles. RTA aims to convert 100 percent of its public buses to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2050, and transform 100percent of its taxis to electric and hydrogen vehicles by 2040.” “RTA has long been a pioneer in sustainable transportation in the region by deploying hybrid vehicles within its taxi fleet as early as 2008, and rolling out electric vehicles as taxis from 2017,” he added.

Paul Willis, president of Al-Futtaim Automotive, said, “Being the largest automotive distributor in the UAE, we have been at the forefront of alternative propulsion since 2008, introducing hybrid vehicles in the public transport sector and achieving a significant 46 percent market share in hybrid public transportation. In keeping with the UAE’s green transformation, we have recently expanded our products in both retail and commercial sectors, further propelling the UAE’s journey towards achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Our commitment doesn’t stop there; we have also established the Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company to provide a comprehensive electric vehicle ecosystem.

Earlier this year, the Al-Futtaim Group launched the Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company, a subsidiary that specialises in providing and promoting sustainable transportation solutions in the UAE and across the Middle East. The company focuses on the distribution and sale of electric and hybrid vehicles, and the provision of electric charging infrastructure and related services.

The company said it aims to expedite the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles in the region, supporting efforts to reduce the carbon footprint and usher in a more sustainable future. It is the exclusive distributor for Polestar and BYD electric vehicles in the UAE that include an array of models that meet diverse needs and budgets.

Willis said, “We aim to have 50 percent of our car sales comprised of new energy efficient vehicles by 2030. This represents a significant acceleration, transitioning from 10 percent to 50 percent in less than seven years.”

Electric buses

Al-Futtaim Automotive will supply 10 electric buses, including Volvo models, each outfitted with smart technologies. The buses will be equipped with touch screens that provide drivers with real-time information on battery usage rate, door status, and temperature, as well as alerts and messages on the head-up display. They will feature a one-of-a kind geographical navigation system that informs the driver about the environment and the suitability of the road for the bus. The buses feature a continuous monitoring system to track the driver’s condition and detect fatigue. Alerts are relayed to the driver and documented for future analysis. This proactive method is designed to boost driver safety and reduces fatigue-related accidents.

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