In order to promote electric vehicle sales in Dubai the local government has been planning on introducing a number of lucrative offers, including subsidized car prices. Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), said that the government has been making elecric vehicles available at a subsidised price.
Speaking more on the occasion, Al Tayer said, “The Executive Council of Dubai is studying various proposals to encourage people to use eco-friendly vehicles. Having the infrastructure ready for charging the vehicles is a first step in this direction. Various other things are being looked at like reducing the customs duty or subsidizing the cost for buyers.”
Currently Dewa reportedly has about 16 electric vehicle charging stations and it plans to expand it to about 100 across Dubai by the end of year. It is likely to come across major highways, malls, airports, parks and government buildings. Speaking more on it, Eng Muammar Khalid Al Katheri, Executive Vice President, Engineer Management at DSO, said, “Electric vehicles have a 50 per cent reduction in fuel cost compared with conventional petrol vehicles, which itself is a big incentive to go for these vehicles and if the proposal of subsidy that is being studied is approved, it will be an added incentive for people.”
Commenting more on the perks of the study, he added, “In Europe and in the US there are subsidies at various levels if you own an electric vehicle, such as a waiver on customs duty, a discount at the dealership as well as reduced registration and testing charges. All these things are under study in Dubai as well and could be implemented soon.”
Source: GN
