Dubai offers incentives for electric, hybrid cars

The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy announced on Sunday several incentives for electric and hybrid vehicle owners to promote sustainable transport, aiming to lower the average annual energy consumption rate.

As part of the Dubai Green Mobility Initiative, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) will offer registered users free electric vehicle charging at the Green Charger Stations until the end of 2019.

During the second quarter of 2014, DEWA began implementing the Green Charger initiative in Q2 2014, with the installation of 100 charging stations initially.

The utility provider is currently working on installing 100 more charging stations to bring the total number to 200 in 2018.

In other incentives for electric vehicles, the city’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) will offer free assigned parking, exemption from RTA vehicle registration and renewal fees, and exemption from the Salik tag fee. The authority will also provide a special sticker for number plates.

“This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, for Dubai to have the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050, and the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy to cut carbon emissions by 16 percent by 2021,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, vice chairman of the Supreme Council of Energy, and the managing director and chief executive officer of DEWA.