Dubai: Electric car charging stations are being planned across Dubai.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is preparing to deploy infrastructure and charging stations for electric vehicles in support of the Smart Dubai initiative, according to said Saeed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO.
He revealed the plan at the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (Wetex) 2014 in Dubai on Monday.
Dewa will instal and manage the infrastructure and operation of electric vehicles, according to Al Tayer.
In phase one of the project, Dewa will install 100 charging stations across Dubai, starting in the second quarter of 2014. It will be completed a year later, according to Al Tayer.
“This initiative will decrease air pollution and protect the environment against the impact caused by transport sectors in the emirate,” he said.
Al Tayer said the project includes establishing charging stations for vehicles in various areas of Dubai and to enhance grid efficiency.
This will included establishing the required infrastructure in collaboration with several stakeholders, including car manufacturers, airports, malls, petrol stations, the Road and Transport Authority, hotels, car parks and others."
This will require coordination with Dubai municipality and customers’ representative and other stakeholders, he added.
While Al Tayer said that it is to early to decide when the second and third phases of the project will be implemented, he said that additional charging stations and infrastructure expansion will take place to include all Dubai’s areas.
“At the completion of this project, people will be able to charge their electrical car wherever they are, home, office, mall or somewhere else,” he said.
Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the chairman of Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, inaugurated the 16th edition of Wetex in Dubai on Monday.
With the company of top government officials and professionals in the field, Shaikh Ahmad toured the exhibition which covers 47,230 square meters in nine halls of the World Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Over 15,000 exhibitors from 40 countries participated in this year’s Wetex, which will last for three days and focus on sustainability and a road map for a green economy.
This year the exhibition is featuring a SmarTech shopper for consumers under the theme ‘For a Better Life’.
“The aim of SmarTech Shopper is to educate consumers about the eco-friendly household appliances and products,” said Saeed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa). “And it will offer a special discount on these products for consumers.”
Dewa has also held the inaugural Green Week event as part of Wetex to raise awareness of the rational consumption of electricity and water.
Smart Dubai initiative aims to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world in the coming three years through 100 initiatives and 100 services to enhance the quality of life in the emirate.
The initiative’s plan is based on six main sectors which are centered around achieving a smarter economy, lifestyle, transportation, governance and environment.
“Dewa is fully prepared to turn this vision into reality by offering new smart initiatives and services to the community of Dubai through the solar panel drive, which supplies all homes and buildings with renewable energy, and the smart applications initiative, which will give customers access to the smart grid and meters," said Al Tayer.
