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Year-End Special: How green cars are driving in a revolution

Tesla and its ilk are shaking things up

2017 has been a very happening year for the automotive world, but if I had to single out the one most significant event of the last 12 months, I'd have to say: it was the introduction of Tesla Motors into the UAE market, heralded by the opening of their showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road. 
There are many reasons why Tesla's entry needs to be highlighted. The first is the company itself. Tesla is not just an automotive manufacturer; in some ways, it is also a tech company with headquarters based in Silicon Valley, California, not in Motor City Detroit, where the big three - Ford, General Motors and Chrysler - are located. For years now, it has been seen as a true disruptor in the automotive industry, spearheading the fight for sustainability. And now, they have finally reached the shores of the Middle East.
It's also about bringing us closer to their CEO Elon Musk - one of the greatest influencers of our time. A rebel in a suit who may favour his 'Italian' fabrics over a black polo and blue denims, Musk is a visionary much like the late Steve Jobs. The entrepreneur is both constantly pushing for innovation - and inspiring others by doing so.
But mostly, it's about their cars. Here, in the Middle East (at least for now), Tesla vehicles are seen as a luxury car more than anything else, a novelty item and a porch ornament. But we all know that there is more to that story. It started out with the Roadster, the first highway legal serial production all-electric car to use lithium-ion battery cells, which out-paced several sports cars - but wasn't much of a commercial success and was even referred to as a 'science experiment' by Jeremy Clarkson. But then came their flagship sedan, the Tesla Model S, which saved them from bankruptcy. The Model S, as a top P 100D trim - can outrun anything on four wheels, from petrol-powered sports cars to most million-dirham supercars. Then came Model X, the electric SUV, which made an emphatic impression with its gull-wing doors. Now, the world awaits the affordable Model 3, which will give a taste of electric, zero-emission mobility to the commoners too.
With each generation, their cars seem to be getting much better. Few weeks ago, the brand announced the next-generation Tesla Roadster, capable of getting from 0 to 96 kph in 1.9 seconds, making it the fastest-accelerating production car ever. Following that, they also announced the production of their Semi truck - yes, a truck that can reach 100 km/h in just 25 seconds, while hauling a 36,000kg load. Surprisingly, it also has a relatively low coefficient of drag of 0.36, making it more aerodynamic than the fastest production car in the world - the superfluous 2 million-plus euro Bugatti Chiron.
By rolling out such Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs), they are highlighting the obvious and detrimental effects of using conventional transport and, unlike other naysayers, are also providing alternative modes of propulsion that are chic, sporty and affordable.
The driving innovation extends to every aspect of their vehicles. The over-sized battery - common to electric cars - is not in the boot or under the rear seats (which creates a number of ergonomic issues) but in the floor, thereby lowering the centre of gravity and making it very drivable. There is an extra set of seats in the boot for kids, increasing seating capacity to seven - unheard of in a sedan. The cars are so technologically advanced, they update their software while you're sleeping. Basically, they're doing what manufacturers of other vehicles, both conventional and 'green', overlook or fail to accomplish.
Tesla has become a key player in providing the building blocks of an autonomous future. Its self-driving capabilities, for instance, are commendable. Helping with this advanced AI is a lot of equipment, like eight surround cameras, giving you a 360-degree view up to 250m in range, 12 ultrasonic sensors to complement this vision and a forward-facing radar that can see through rain, dust and fog - plus advanced processing power to manage all of it. Autonomous capabilities have yet to be legalised in some US states and the UAE, but it's only a matter of time.
You've got to appreciate how the brand looks beyond the vehicle. They plan to introduce car-sharing applications, so your Tesla can generate as much as $20,000 when you rent it out to others while at work or on vacation. Their Giga factory, when completed, will have the second largest footprint in the world of any building ever built. It will also be powered completely by renewable sources.
But things are not as clear as their tail pipe emissions are and we can't take their advert about a "road trip completely sponsored by the power of the sun" at face value. Their cars are still made predominantly of steel and aluminium, and manufacturing it takes up a lot of energy and resources - just like regular vehicles. They also employ a large lithium-ion battery, for which they have to mine deep to fetch those precious minerals. Also, though they don't emit carbon-compound vapours, we still need to think about the source of electricity. In most countries, electricity is generated from power plants that use coal - and some studies indicate that this only makes it as energy-efficient as a diesel engine vehicle. In Scandinavian countries, however, the cycle remains clean, simply because the electricity they generate is from a renewable source. In fact, they produce so much electricity, they can afford to sell it! Then, there is the problem of the batteries. Yes, they can be recycled to an extent, but rechargeable batteries - if disposed incorrectly - can harm the environment.
Tesla also face issues that traditional car-makers face, like problems with fit and finish. I've seen plenty of examples up close - and although they are of reasonable quality, more so than some American-built counterparts, they can't compete with Germans on this aspect.
We need more companies to seek solutions to environmental issues. Some others who've joined the fight include Nissan with its LEAF (the highest selling electric currently) and the Chevrolet Volt and Bolt. Toyota have also been quietly setting themselves up as a key player in this field. Just the other day, they added another 554 Camry hybrids to the Dubai Taxi fleet. They have also invested highly in fuel cell technology, which is a whole other ball game. Unfortunately, their fuel-cell powered Mirai is not currently available in the UAE and there is only one charging station here. In the US market, where it is available, it is priced at over $50,000, which means it's not cheap. But there are plenty of pros: for instance, it only takes 3-5 minutes to fill up a full tank of hydrogen, as compared to 2-6 hours to charge an EV.
There is another unlikely trend on the rise - and it may even be a solution for pollution. Although the number of vehicles on the roads is currently at the highest it's ever been, studies are showing that interest in getting licences and purchasing vehicles have been declining. With some finding public transport more viable, the rise of online retailers who deliver to your doorstep as well as work-from-home opportunities, and the boundless entertainment of the Internet, many are choosing to stay at home.
In the end, it's not just about what we drive, but about having a holistic approach towards achieving sustainability: reducing waste, planting trees and saying no to consumerism (which includes cars we don't need!). So, sporty, luxury car makers though Tesla and its ilk may be, they actually represent a revolution in the way we live and the way we think. It's about starting that conversation about the environment, and radicalising the industry - not at the pace profit-minded automakers decide, but the one consumers do, by making deliberate changes that take us closer to a cleaner environment.                                 
wknd@khaleejtimes.com