Electric cars will invade Dubai sooner than you think

Authorities in Dubai are pushing further the idea of creating an eco-friendly, sustainable city with fresh and clearer air with a new project featuring the construction of electric car charging stations across Dubai. The plan is part of the Smart Dubai initiative and designed by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.

The new project was announced by Saeed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) during the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition 2014 on Monday. He confirmed the installing of 100 charging stations for electric vehicles across Dubai, which is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2014. The construction of the infrastructure, as well as the operation of the electric cars will be managed by DEWA, Al Tayer also said. The project will be in collaboration with the Road and Transport Authority, manufacturers, airports, malls, hotels and petrol stations and will be executed in three different phases, with planned completion a year later.

The primary goal of the project is providing easy access to charging stations to all residents of Dubai by locating them in all areas of the city. This will promote a wider use of electric cars among citizens, which will eventually decrease the pollution and protect the environment from the devastating damage caused by the transport sector. The project is an essential part of the Smart Dubai initiative aiming to improve the life and conditions in the emirate and to make it the “smartest city in the world” through various services and programs. Some of the initiatives include supplying residential and commercial buildings with renewable energy through solar panels, launching a new, smarter address system with map coordinates, and smart applications for easy access to the smart grid and meters.

Six major sectors will be enhanced due to the Smart Dubai initiative – smarter economy, transport, lifestyle, governance and environment.