Petrolheads turn green for style

With its low fuel prices, the UAE is not really a country where motorists make much of a fuss about fuel consumption. Where filling the tank even of a big four-wheeler does not cost more than Dh150, few people spend time calculating how much cheaper it would be if they used compressed natural gas (CNG), hybrid or electric engines. And, if one were honest, here in this region, the emphasis placed on carbon dioxide emissions, carbon footprints and global warming isn't exactly overwhelming. It probably can't get much hotter in the UAE, and acid rain can't destroy trees and crops where there are almost no trees or crops. Or so goes the popular belief.

Only high-end greenery will do
All this makes it difficult for car manufacturers to promote green motoring in the UAE, which results in a rather small range of alternative fuel vehicles being offered. But, however, there seems to be a demand for the high-end segment of green cars and a readiness to make a trend statement.

"In this region, it's not about saving. It's about people wanting to have the newest in technology, just because of it," BMW spokesperson for corporate and intergovernmental affairs, Andreas Lampka, told GN Focus at the 2009 launch of its BMW ActiveHybrid X6 at the Dubai International Motor Show. The car consumes 20 per cent less fuel than the fully fuel-powered version, but it also comes with a 20 per cent higher price tag. So this can't be really about saving, indeed.

Another example: supercar maker Kepler Motors chose the last Dubai International Motor Show (held in 2009) to reveal its newest 800hp gas/electric Motion model, which was due for delivery in 2011, for the same reason. "The region has a passion for ultra-high performance, limited-edition supercars, and presents the ideal platform to showcase advanced technology and innovative features," says Kepler Motions founder Russ Wicks.

The new Rolls-Royce Phantom 102EX electric will debut at this year's Dubai International Motor Show, the electric version of the company's top-of-the-line model, addressing a completely new buyers' segment: ultra-luxury electric car owners. The car features — as it ought to, of course — the world's largest electric car battery weighing 640kg and has a range of about 160km. The electric Phantom comes with a price tag of one million pounds (Dh5.86 million), but still, it is making a green statement by being extremely fuel efficient.

However, there are down-to-earth options available. Earlier this year, Lexus distributor Al-Futtaim Motors unveiled the new Lexus CT 200h, the fourth car in the global Toyota-Lexus set-up with a full hybrid technology and the second Lexus hybrid to hit the UAE market, besides the LS 600h.

"The idea behind the car is to offer an entry-level Lexus, which is also the most accessible hybrid model in the luxury range," says Saud Abbasi, General Manager Lexus at Al-Futtaim Motors, adding, "We are targeting a young audience and second car buyers who also want to make a statement by their decision to use hybrid technology."

While hybrids are sold in Europe, the US and Asia mainly in appreciation of their green technology and lower fuel costs, the sales proposition in the UAE market "is different from that", Abbasi comments. "As saving fuel costs isn't much of an issue here, hybrid car buyers are more into new technology and into making a unique statement."

Corporations lead the way
Other green car models are few and far between in the UAE. There have been fleet tests with Toyota, Nissan, Ford and Honda hybrids as well as the Chevrolet Tahoe and Malibu hybrid models by governmental organisations, Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority and taxi fleets in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Dubai's government has set itself a goal to replace the emirates' entire fleet of taxis, government and emergency vehicles by 2012. A number of municipality cars have already been converted to CNG engines.

The SS Lootah Group has embarked on a green car programme, which saw the conversion of a part of the group's fleet to CNG-powered cars, hybrids and electric cars. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company says it plans to convert more than 500 public vehicles and taxis to those run by natural gas by next year. Emirates National Oil Company subsidiary Emgas showcased a Volkswagen Passat TSi Ecofuel and a Passat Variant CNG, among others, at the Green Highway 2011 event held in Dubai in October.

Last year, family conglomerate Al Yousuf bought California-based electric vehicle maker Phoenix Motorcars and plans to launch the UAE's first battery-powered sport utility truck soon. And Abu Dhabi-based Aabar Investments as well as the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority hold a stake in electric sports carmaker Tesla Motors.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi are also pushing to extend the use of CNG among private motorists. This year, a number of gas stations throughout the country have been equipped with CNG-filling pumps. Motorists do not necessarily need to replace their vehicles with a new CNG car; they can easily have their engines converted for CNG use in several conversion stations opened by Emirates Transport and C.G. Tech (Compressed Gas Technology) in Abu Dhabi. The costs for the conversion are between Dh7,000 and Dh9,000. As the price of CNG is 30 per cent cheaper than for petrol in the UAE, amortisation of the investment into the engine conversion could be reached in less than one year for a frequently driven car.

Another option has opened up for those who want to get the feel of a green car first before making a final decision and committing to an environmentally friendly vehicle. The newly launched Green Car Rental company, based in Essa Tower on Shaikh Zayed Road in Dubai, specialises solely in green cars for rent, with models ranging from the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius to the BMW ActiveHybrid X6, Mercedes S400 Hybrid, Lexus LS 600h, Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid or the Tesla Roadster, one of the world's electric supercars. So anyone can go green now.