The UAE to Install 100 Free Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
The UAE will install 100 free fast-charging stations for electric vehicles across all emirates. This initiative aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 100,000 tons by 2030, which is equivalent to planting 1.8 million trees.
In Abu Dhabi, the first state-run network of electric vehicle charging stations, UAEV, covering all seven emirates, has been officially launched. The joint venture between the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) and Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE) plans to install 100 charging stations by the end of the year and expand the number to 1,000 by 2030.
UAEV will offer 160 kW fast-charging stations, available to everyone, including taxi drivers. Charging will be free until the end of the year, after which tariffs will be introduced. The initiative will support electric vehicle owners and make them more attractive to new users.
Eng. Sharif Al Olama, the Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, noted that electric vehicles are the future of global mobility and a crucial step towards sustainable development. The charging stations will be installed in public places, workplaces, shopping malls, and residential areas, ensuring easy access for all drivers.
Badr Mohammad Rabia Al Awadhi, Head of Sustainability at EtihadWE, emphasized that deploying the infrastructure for electric vehicles will create economic opportunities and jobs. Yousif Ahmed Al Ali, CEO of Etihad Water and Electricity, stated that 100 charging stations will be installed by the end of 2024, with the number reaching 1,000 by 2030.
According to forecasts by the International Energy Agency, the share of electric vehicle sales will grow from 15% in 2023 to nearly 40% by 2030. The first charging stations have already been installed in Ajman, and their number will increase across the country in the coming months. The initiative supports the Net Zero 2050 strategy and contributes to economic growth.
Eng. Al Ali stressed the importance of the availability and convenience of charging stations, adding that a 24/7 customer service center and a mobile app with information about charging stations will be created.
