Keeping up with the increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the UAE, the government has ambitious plans to make fast-charging stations easily accessible to the public. Sales of EVs in the UAE have been on a remarkable upward trajectory. In the previous year, the overall sales of EVs reached 11.3%, a significant increase from just 3.7% in 2022. With a target to elevate the proportion of EVs to 50% of all vehicles on the UAE’s roads by 2050, the government is further propelling the adoption of EVs while addressing range anxiety and advancing towards a sustainable future.
To support this initiative, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) and Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE) have jointly launched UAEV – the first government-owned EV charging network. While a few fast-charging units have been deployed in Ajman, a comprehensive nationwide network consisting of 100 stations across all emirates is scheduled to be realized within the next seven months.
Badr Mohammad Rabia Al Awadhi, head of sustainability at EtihadWE and lead of the UAEV programme, emphasized that the primary focus will be on installing fast-charging units at popular public locations, including parking spaces near residential areas. The aim is to cater to the needs of those living in apartments who currently lack EV chargers within their buildings.
With the majority of EVs boasting a range of 400km per charge, charging stations will also be strategically placed in locations such as shopping centers, highways, and workplaces. Al Awadhi highlighted the meticulous study conducted to select these locations, involving factors such as traffic, surrounding developments, and the needs of the public in those areas.
In addition to public areas, the charging stations will also be integrated into petrol stations through a long-term strategic partnership with Emarat, and similar collaborations with other entities such as Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), Aldar Properties, and LuLu Hypermarket.
While the services will be offered free of charge until the year-end, pricing for the services will be determined by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, with tariffs extending to other charge point operators as well. UAEV will offer a 24X7 call center, an app, and state-of-the-art digital platforms, leveraging critical infrastructure across all seven emirates and ensuring the reliability of the charging units through top hardware manufacturers.
