Global electric vehicle transformation project launched for the UAE

Image credit: twitter.com/MOEIUAE

The UAE government announced the launch of the Global Electric Vehicle (EV) Market, a transformation project that will underpin the country’s energy transition for vehicles. The project was announced in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, as per state news agency WAM.

The launch of the Global EV Market is in line with the country’s objective to transition to net zero as well as set itself up as a global electric vehicle hub.

To support the project, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) has partnered with Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE), Bee’ah Group, and the American University of Sharjah. The project also brings together EV manufacturers and investors, including Audi, Siemens, BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, NEV Investment, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, and Porsche.

Unveiling the new project, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said, “The project is a comprehensive plan and an ambitious national programme to integrate the energy and infrastructure sectors and align the work of federal and local government entities and private sector businesses to turn the UAE into a global market for electric vehicles.”

The project envisages a framework that brings together partners as well as creates incentives for the purchase of EVs, facilitates investment in the country’s network of EV charging stations, and install them across federal buildings and roads and MoEI’s truck rest stops.

The transformation project will have MoEI’s private sector partners invest in establishing EV charging stations and operating them, in addition, to investing in setting up EV service centres across the country.

“We seek to create a conducive environment for the growth of the EV market in the UAE through policy levers for investment and socio-economic and environmental incentive schemes. To support the shift to green mobility, we aim to increase the share of EVs to 50 per cent of total vehicles on our roads by 2050,” said Al Mazrouei.

He added the project had international ambitions with the infrastructure set to spread across the UAE as well as other Gulf countries. “The Global EV Market project will support the objectives of the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, drive the circular economy, and reduce the carbon footprint of the transport sector – a major carbon emitter and a target sector for the National Demand Side Management Programme,” said the minister.

ضمن فعاليات معرض ومؤتمر المركبات الكهربائية في أبوظبي، معالي سهيل المزروعي يتحدث عن مدى أهمية تقليل البصمة الكربونية وجعل خيار اقتناء المركبة الكهربائية لا يقل أهمية عن اقتناء المركبة التي تعمل بالوقود.#مركز_الأخبار_أبوظبي pic.twitter.com/vvRKSKF5hE

— علوم الدار (@oloumaldar) May 30, 2023

Electric vehicle infrastructure

The project seeks to increase the share of electric cars and buses and create a mix of options for electric trucks to reduce the consumption of energy by 40 per cent by 2050, as per the objectives of the National Demand Side Management Programme for the transport sector.

The project includes installing over 700 EV chargers in two phases at targeted locations across the country.

As per the agreements, MoEI’s private sector partners will play a key role in promoting EVs. They will invest in establishing EV charging stations and operating them, in addition, to invest in setting up EV service centres across the country to offer dedicated services to EV owners.

Simultaneously, MoEI also launched the National Platform for Electric Vehicles’ Chargers, which features a mobile app to link users and a guide for installing electric vehicle charging stations to unify their specifications nationwide and align them with world-class standards.