Youssef Al Arabi (Dubai)

As the UAE strives to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, electric vehicles are emerging as a strategic option to reduce emissions in a transport sector that is undergoing significant technological change.
The local market is experiencing a rapid shift towards EVs, with a large fleet of EVs launched earlier this year, along with the development and grounding of a network of EV charging stations. A global crisis related to the availability of semiconductors.
The accelerated transformation of electric vehicles is associated with a concerted effort to decarbonize the electricity grid through the implementation of environmentally clean energy production projects.
According to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology called “Looking at the Mobility of the Future”, the number of passenger cars in use in the world has already reached more than one billion vehicles, consuming almost 400 billion gallons of fuel.
Light vehicles produce more than 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, accounting for almost 40% of the transport sector’s total emissions.
Global spending on the auto industry is around $2 trillion, and that huge number does not include public spending needed to support road networks and other vehicular infrastructure.
The study says that electric cars will reduce the source of carbon emissions that contribute to poor air quality in densely populated cities.

ecologically clean
Electric cars are more environmentally friendly than any gasoline or diesel car model, as many studies show that electric cars are more efficient and therefore produce less harmful emissions, even if we add to that the emissions from power plants.
This study found that electric cars are more efficient and therefore more environmentally friendly, and even if the electric car is charged with electricity generated from fossil fuels, the fuel efficiency of an electric car is 4% higher than that of a gasoline car. An electric car will be able to travel the same distance as a gasoline car, consuming only two-thirds of the energy.
An electric car has zero global warming emissions because it relies on a battery to power its engine and doesn’t burn fuel internally, and also requires cleaner fluids like engine oil and coolant.
And although in both conventional and electric cars we have to change the batteries in time, discarding the battery of an electric car is less polluting than that of a conventional car.
The battery of an electric car will be charged from the electricity grid in each region, which means that if the grid is clean, the car will mostly run on clean energy.
In a broader perspective, electric vehicles will not only help meet national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also improve air quality for all.

economic efficiency
In terms of economic efficiency on a personal level, driving an electric car will help the user to save more on fuel costs.
In addition to annual fuel bills, you also have to consider that electric cars don’t require as much annual maintenance due to less moving parts because there’s only one moving part.
And because many car manufacturers offer extremely long warranties on batteries, you can safely drive for years without investing in maintenance to keep your car on the road.
On the other hand, cost analysis shows that the average production cost difference between electric vehicles will be about $5,000 more now compared to producing a similarly sized internal combustion car by 2030.
The production cost gap between electric and conventional vehicles is expected to continue beyond 2030, but lower operating costs contribute to the higher purchase price of battery electric vehicles.

increased activity
Electric vehicles are seeing increasing demand amid government initiatives to encourage ownership, EV infrastructure development and the spread of charging networks have also contributed to the increase in demand.
Circulation No. 1/2016 issued by the Supreme Energy Council targets government agencies to include hybrid and electric vehicles in at least 10% of total new purchases of hybrid and electric vehicles from 2016 to 2020. Electricity from hybrid and electric vehicles in Dubai by 2% by 2020, then by 10% by 2030.
A recent Australian survey found that 54.1% choose electricity for environmental reasons, while the rest voted for ease of use and overall cost.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts that by 2040, electric vehicles will account for approximately 33% of the total vehicle fleet globally and 55% of new vehicle sales.

Government initiatives
Bilal Nasr, CEO and founder of New Auto, said that electric vehicles are currently in high demand among consumers in the UAE, following government initiatives to encourage the adoption of such vehicles.
Nasr pointed to a combination of other factors that increased demand for this type of vehicle, the most important being the savings achieved in terms of delivery costs versus the cost of refueling, in addition to a 60% savings. Periodic maintenance conditions.
Nasr added that among the biggest factors contributing to the growth of EV penetration in the UAE in 2022, a group of agents and importers presented a new package of different models in attractively priced packages that included warranty. Battery and body, indicating that the battery warranty period reaches 8 years.
He added that the UAE market is witnessing a significant increase in demand for electric vehicles, noting that the number of EV charging points in the UAE is steadily increasing in public parking lots, parks and buildings across the country, which which is a deterrent for consumers. concern about it.

the infrastructure
Axel Dreyer, general manager of Galadari Motors, the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles in the UAE, said that with rising global fuel prices, demand for electric vehicles is growing and reaching new heights.
He added that affordable electric and hybrid vehicles are in high demand and will maintain a promising growth rate in the coming period, which means that the market share of these vehicles will increase in the coming years.

For his part, Dr. Hamid Haqbrawar, Managing Director of BMW Group Middle East, said: With the progress of infrastructure in the UAE, which is a regional leader in this field, it has become easier to provide charging stations for cars. , helping to attract greater consumer demand for electric mobility.
He added: We are currently witnessing a positive consumer attitude towards EVs and express the belief that there would be more EV models on the roads in 2022 were it not for supply issues in the auto industry.
He expected the percentage of consumers switching to electric vehicles to increase significantly as car supply returns to normal.
He explained: We are also witnessing the continued development of necessary infrastructure in the UAE and Saudi Arabia in line with the growth of electric vehicles in the market, and government incentives will make electric mobility more attractive to consumers as the models of electric vehicles keep rolling. outside. to expand significantly.
He noted that sales of BMW electric car models in the first six months of 2022 in the country saw a remarkable 120% increase over the same period last year.
He noted that the group is taking an open technology approach to the transition to sustainable mobility in the region and is keen to expand its fleet of zero-emission vehicles.

Increased demand
Mohamed Khader, President of Al Majid Motors Company – Kia, said: UAE markets are on track for an early 2023 launch date for the EV package to meet the growing demand for EVs.
Khader added: “The significant expansion of the charging network for electric vehicles has helped public acceptance of its ownership, while paving the way for more of these vehicles on the roads.”
He recalled that the group intends to launch electric vehicles later this year, given the expectation of high demand for their purchase, especially in the context of the gradual advance of the world semiconductor crisis.