Dubai/Abu Dhabi - The electric vehicle road trip aims to showcase the region's efforts to promote sustainability
Published: Wed 17 Jan 2018, 10:33 PM
Last updated: Fri 19 Jan 2018, 5:43 PM
Ten electric vehicles (EV) will go on an epic 1,217km, nine-day road trip across the UAE and Oman - without using a single drop of petrol - beginning today until January 26 - to push for the acceleration of EV adoption in the country and the region.
Traversing stunning desert landscapes, twisting mountain roads and picturesque coastal drives, this is the second time that Electric Vehicle Road Trip (EVRT) will take place.
The kick off will be at the ongoing World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi where EV 'road trippers' will set off for a 270km drive to Oman, passing through Al Ain before arriving in Sohar after approximately three hours on the road, on a full battery charge. From Oman, the convoy will also pass through Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Sharjah before reaching its final destination at the Sustainable City in Dubai on January 26.
Organisers said the objective of the EVRT is to showcase the region's efforts to promote sustainability and offer the public the chance to test the EVs for themselves during pit stops.
Ben Pullen, co-founder and managing director of Global EVRT, told Khaleej Times: "There are a number of reasons why the EVRT Middle East is important, but we can drill them down to two - first is the bigger picture, and something the UAE government has been working tirelessly to promote and adopt, which is to transition our mobility options to lower carbon and polluting options - something the whole world should be thinking about.
"The second is a real need to raise awareness and educate the market on these options and the technology behind these solutions, which are making huge leaps and are applicable to real world, real life scenarios.
"We're now at a point where almost all of us can use an electric vehicle in everyday use and this is something that we'll hopefully soon see spilling over into public transport," he added.
Pullen said: "we aim to expand and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles even further through our events, aligning with the inspiring sustainability initiatives of the UAE government."
Debunking the myths over EVs, Pullen said: "We recommend the public to definitely try out the EVs. Experiencing the technology is the perfect way to fully appreciate its capabilities and how it is shaping the future of transport."
He said there are public testing days in Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah and Dubai.
"The journey promises to be nine days of fun, educational and inspiring moments and activities that will not only clear up any misunderstanding amongst consumers about what these EVs are capable of, but also to showcase the natural beauty of this region," he added.
"Driving an electric vehicle is the ideal way to discover the technology that is shaping the transport needs of tomorrow. By establishing a network of charging stations across the 1,217km route, the EVRT Middle East will demonstrate just how capable these vehicles are and how they are a real, practical, and fun option for car buyers today," Pullen added.
angel@khaleejtimes.com
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