Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has added 100 new electronic vehicle (EV) charging stations in the emirate, bringing the total number up to 200.
Announced on the sidelines of the Wetex 2018 exhibition in Dubai, Dewa said the move formed Phase 2 of its Green Charger initiative, which was launched in 2015 as part of its efforts to encourage environment-friendly electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and support sustainable modes of transport in Dubai.
Speaking on the move, HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, chief executive officer of Dewa, and founder and chairman of Wetex, said: “This is in continuation of our efforts to support the Smart Dubai initiative, which aims to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world, ensuring a bright future for all Dubai residents by strengthening the foundations of environmental sustainability.
“It also supports the achievement of the UAE Vision 2021 and the Dubai Plan 2021 to make Dubai a smart, integrated, and sustainable city with clean, healthy, and sustainable environmental elements.”
The news comes amid wider Dewa efforts to forge links with developers such Nakheel and Majid Al Futtaim Group by installing EV chargers at some of their projects.
Al Tayer said: “We have also installed charging stations at Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai International Financial Centre, and Dubai Airport Free Zone. These sites are strategically important as they reflect Dubai’s leading position to the participants of international conferences and exhibitions held [here].”
“At least 10% of all newly-purchased cars will be electric or hybrid from 2016 to 2020. The proportion of electric and hybrid cars will rise to 2% by 2020, and 10% by 2030,” he added.