Dubai introduces electric car charging stations

Officials demonstrating an electric vehicle charging unit at DEWA headquarters. Photo: Juidin Bernarrd/Khaleej Times

Dubai: The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) this morning opened the first public charging stations for electric vehicles in Dubai.

Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Airports and Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa and vice-chairman of the council, officially inaugurated the solar-powered charging stations at the authority's headquarters.

Al Tayer said 16 stations have been opened in the first phase of the project, which is one of the three Smart Dubai initiatives announced by Dewa last year.

These stations are located in Dewa's offices across the emirate and in Dubai Silicon Oasis. Each station facilitates charging of two cars at a time.

Three cars, one hybrid and two electric cars, were chraged at the stations at Dewa headquarters at the ceremony.

Dewa aims to open 100 electric car charging stations by the end of this year. The authority is in‎ talks with electric car manufacturers and private developers for boosting the presence of electric cars and their charging stations in the emirate. Compared to cars powered by petrol, electric cars help in reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emission. They also require very less maintenance. However, they require more initial investment and longer time for charging, factors that have hindered their popularity.

With more charging facilities in public spaces, Dewa aims to encourage more people to use electric cars and contribute to sustainable environment in Dubai.

sajila@khaleejtimes.com