According to the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure in the UAE, Suhail Al Mazrouei, the sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country is rapidly increasing, with EVs now accounting for over 1 percent of the overall car market. Al Mazrouei made these remarks at the Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the significant growth in options for EV ownership due to competition from Europe, the United States, China, South Korea, Japan, and other countries. The demand for EVs in the UAE is expected to continue rising at a compound annual rate of 30 percent between 2022 and 2028.
The UAE has made notable progress in electric mobility readiness and was ranked eighth globally by Arthur D Little, a consultancy. The government has already converted around 20 per cent of its government agency cars to EVs and aims to have 42,000 EVs on the roads by 2030. In order to support the growing number of EVs, the country has expanded its charging station infrastructure by approximately 60 per cent over the past three years, reaching a total of 800 stations. Efforts are being made to further increase the number of charging stations, with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority targeting 1,000 public charging stations in Dubai alone by 2025.
Globally, electric car sales are projected to surge by 35 per cent in the current year, reaching 14 million units compared to 10 million in the previous year, according to the International Energy Agency. The share of electric cars in the overall market is expected to rise to 18 per cent in 2023, up from 14 per cent in 2022. However, there are challenges to overcome, including battery technology advancements, the pricing of EVs, and the expansion of the necessary charging infrastructure.
The UAE recognizes the importance of electric mobility as part of its transition to cleaner energy. The country is investing in various clean energy projects to reduce emissions, including the construction of the Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park and the Al Dhafra station. The Noor Abu Dhabi solar plant, which commenced operations in 2019, is one of the world’s largest single-site solar power projects, generating approximately one gigawatt of electricity. As the UAE aims to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2050, EVs are considered a crucial enabler for the country’s transition to cleaner energy sources.
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