With a hike in fuel prices and a rise in awareness about global climate change, electric cars aka EVs are becoming a popular choice. Governments across the world are encouraging the use of low-emission vehicles that do not rely on non-renewable resources. Not to mention, almost all known brands have joined the race to build the most efficient electric vehicles. Furthermore, with more charging stations across the country, the UAE government is playing a significant role in making EVs more popular in the region.
This guide covers all there is to know about electric cars and their emergence as a popular eco-friendly, cost-effective option.
Electric Cars – The Past, The Present and The Future
Although it is easier to think of electric cars as a more recent technology with tremendous future implications, their legacy goes way back.
The first EV was created in 1837 in Scotland. You would think the invention was not much of a success to have eventually died down – but that is not the case. Those cars were good enough and were introduced as battery-driven electric cabs in New York and London. However, the golden days for electric cars did not last for long due to massive oil discoveries after a few years. Due to little environmental awareness in that era, cars running on diesel and petrol won the race.
Any attempt to bring back the EVs was unsuccessful for decades until the technology resurfaced in the last 10 to 15 years. In 2008, Elon Musk reintroduced electric cars with the Tesla Roadster – the first highway legal all-electric car to hit the roads, reaching a range of 350 km. The Roadster inspired other popular car manufacturers to build their own all-electric car models.
Electric cars are the future now as more agile technology and aesthetically pleasing designs are rolled out at reasonable prices. Famous car companies such as Volvo are to make all cars at least partially electric from 2019 onwards. Bloomberg’s report suggests that by 2040, above 50% cars sold will be electric.
The EV Technology
An electric vehicle is an automobile that harnesses electricity stored in rechargeable batteries to power its electric motor. There is no need for a fuel tank, gearbox, clutch and exhaust pipe since these vehicles don’t rely on combustion. This makes electric vehicles quieter and smoother to drive as compared to regular cars.
The mileage of earlier electric cars per charge was not very impressive. Today, we have EVs that feature 400+ km/charge. It is still much less than the area you can cover with a tank full of petrol, but it is enough to complete most of your regular trips around the city.
Types of Electric Cars
There are three main types of electric cars:
1. Battery Electric Vehicles (EVs)
This is your standard electric car running only on electricity. Many manufacturers including Tesla and the mainstream ones like Renault offer these battery-powered EVs that need to be plugged in for a recharge.
Electric cars are being manufactured at a fast pace and each year, several models come out. Some of the best electric vehicles in the UAE include the likes of Chevrolet Bolt, Tesla Model 3, Porsche Taycan and more.
Have a look at this listing for used affordable electric vehicles in the UAE:
You might also want to have a look at these amazing concept cars that run on electric technology.
2. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
This type of electric vehicle has both an electric motor as well as a petrol engine. You can plug in a PHEV for charging that will power it for a short time on electricity. Once the battery is exhausted, the car runs on petrol again.
3. Conventional Hybrids
This type of electric car also has both a battery-operated electric motor and a fuel tank. However, unlike PHEVs, you cannot plug it in. The battery is charged by the combustion engine while you drive.
Check out the listing for used hybrid electrics cars to get one without breaking your bank:
- Buy used Toyota Prius
- Used Mitsubishi Outlander for sale
- Buy second hand BMW i3
- Second hand Kia Optima for sale
4. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)
Similar to a battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV), a fuel cell car also operates on electric motors. Therefore, it is also considered a type of electric vehicle and is known as the fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). That said, unlike electric vehicles that rely on battery power, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are different from other electric vehicles in generating their electricity.
FCEVs of today are typically powered by hydrogen. A hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (HFCEV) has its power plant onboard, based on hydrogen fuel cells. Fuel cell technology uses reverse electrolysis to generate power. Only heat and energy are emitted from the exhaust as a result of this energy generation process. This makes hydrogen fuel cell technology a source of clean energy.
Toyota is one of the automakers taking the lead in fuel cell technology. Mirai is the Japanese brand’s car model that runs on hydrogen. The car was originally launched in 2014 and has now entered its second generation introduced in 2021. Here are some more interesting facts about Toyota Mirai that you want to know about.
Benefits of Electric Cars
There are several reasons for someone to invest in an electric vehicle. Some of the most prominent benefits of electric cars are mentioned below:
1. Low Running Cost
Electric cars are generally cheaper to run compared to diesel/petrol cars. The electricity required to charge an electric car is about one-third the amount of petrol needed for the same car running 1 km.
2. Low Maintenance Cost
Electric cars maintenance costs less than petrol/diesel cars. For example, there are fewer moving parts in BEVs than in a traditional fuel-powered car. This means less servicing and zero expensive systems such as starter motors, exhaust pipes, radiators, fuel injection machinery and other similar parts.
The only moving part of a BEV is its motor. All you have to do is maintain the tyres, brakes and suspension and you are good to go. However, batteries wear out and need replacement. Good news – most manufacturers offer an 8-year warranty for EV batteries.
3. Environmentally Friendly
One of the biggest reasons why electric cars are being promoted is their role in cutting down carbon emission. With their zero exhaust emissions, electric cars are crucial in controlling air pollution. Since conventional cars produce a lot of waste gas emissions, EVs are preferred for environmental reasons. Furthermore, EVs convert 95% of electric energy to motion whereas internal combustion engines have an efficiency of only 30% with 70% energy lost to the environment as noise or heat.
To make them even more eco-friendly, some car manufacturers are using recycled material to build the models, which further cuts down the footprint of the manufacturing process as well.
4. Better for your Health
Electric cars also have health benefits. While on one hand, reduced gas emission will ensure purer air to breathe eliminating air pollution and air-borne diseases and health conditions, on the other hand, quieter cars mean less noise pollution.
Despite all the benefits, you need to consider that at least for now, electric cars are more expensive than conventional cars with similar features.
Charging an Electric Car
Making a switch to electric cars has one huge concern – charging the car. While it feels weird initially to charge your car, it gets easier. You charge the battery of your EV from any socket. You can use the same sockets you use for your home appliances or mobile phone chargers. Moreover, there are charging stations all across the UAE, allowing you to charge your cars if the batteries are drained mid-journey. While most at-home chargers require you to charge overnight or a few hours, commercial charging stations such as Tesla charging stations offer fast charging within minutes. However, charging time depends largely on the vehicle as well.
The charging speed depends on which car you are driving and what power source you are using. However, there are three main types charging options for you:
1. Slow Charging
This is usually the case if you are using sockets at your home as the source of electricity. The general speed is 5 hours for a complete charge. You can leave your vehicle to charge overnight.
2. Fast Charging
You can charge your electric vehicle in just one hour with fast charging option.
3. Rapid Charging
It allows you to charge your electric vehicle in only 20 minutes. The rapid charging points are usually the ones you find installed near highway service stations and around major roads.
Electric Cars in the UAE
While other sustainable options like solar cars are still not available on a large-scale, electric car have taken the U.A.E by storm too. Most of their presence and popularity is apparent in Dubai. The city has made various changes and introduced many incentives to shift from diesel/petrol-run cars to electric vehicles for residents. Therefore, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) in cooperation with other government bodies such as The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality and Civil Defence launched the Green Mobility initiative.
Some of the incentives for the promotion of electric vehicles are mentioned below:
EV Green Charger Initiative
DEWA launched the EV Green Charger Initiative in 2015 in line with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision of making Dubai one of the best cities of the world. The second phase of the project resulted in 100 additional electric charging stations for electric cars doubling the number of such stations in Dubai.
By now, 240 electric charging stations have been installed in various parts of Dubai such as airports, government offices, shopping malls, petrol stations, hospitals, commercial offices and residential areas.
DEWA to ensure Vehicle-charging Station meet Standards
As per the Directive 1 of 2017 issued by Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, all the private and public organizations should get DEWA’s approval for the installation, establishment, maintenance and operation of any EV charging station in Dubai. However, DEWA will be coordinating with RTA and Dubai Municipality to make sure that relevant authorities adopt certain standards and technical requirements when building EV charging stations.
10% of the Sold Cars to be Electric by 2030
In 2016, the Supreme Council of Energy issued the Directive setting a target that at least 10% of all the purchases on the new car are either hybrid or electric by 2030. This government body also issued the directive for the city to attain sustainability by adopting the best global practices meeting the technical requirement of DEWA. This was in support of the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy limiting carbon emissions by 16% until 2021.
Free Charging for Electric Vehicles
DEWA provides free charging to electric vehicles registered under the Green Charger Initiative. The offer started from September 2017 and lasted until December 2019. It was then further extended until December 31st, 2021 thanks to its positive impact on the uptake of electric vehicles in Dubai. However, this offer is for non-commercial users and applicable to only the charging stations in public and not extended to home charging.
Registered but commercial users like private, semi-government and government organizations are charged a tariff of 29 fills/KW hour.
Other Incentives For Electric Vehicle Owners
Other incentives for electric car owners as offered by RTA include exemption from Salik’s tag fee, free of charge parking, no renewal fees for electric vehicle registration and organizing special number plates.
The shift from conventional fuel cars to electric cars is inevitable. Many other countries are implementing changes to ensure a thorough shift. For example, German government’s grants for e-car purchases led to a record-breaking number of applicants while the UK and France put a ban on the sales of conventional cars by 2040. Also, Denmark now has more electric charging points as compared to petrol stations.
Overall, the general interest in EVs seems to be rising, and for good reason. With a tremendous improvement in their charging speeds, aesthetics, infrastructure to support them and their lowered building costs, an era of electric cars is upon us.
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