In a bid to promote the use of hybrid and electric vehicles in the region, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is all set to allot special parking spaces for these eco-friendly vehicles along with providing subsidies to those willing to switch to these latest technology cars.
As per Dewa, parking spaces for electric vehicles will be facilitated throughout the city in malls, petrol stations, airports and streets. These special spaces for electric and hybrid vehicles will be distinguished from the rest with green paint along with a logo and sign indicating its exclusivity for electric vehicles. Leaving no stone unturned, Dewa hinted that the government sector too will have to regulate and bring about new approaches in order to fit these ecological alternatives into their fleet of cars.
According to Waleed Salman, Executive Vice-President of Strategy and Business Development at Dewa, the facilitation of exclusive parking spaces for electric cars has been made possible with the support of its major stakeholders including Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Airports, mega malls and several petrol stations.
This is not the first initiative by Dewa to endorse hybrid and electric vehicles as just recently it launched a total of sixteen EV charging stations across the emirates in its first phase of developing the required infrastructure for electric and hybrid vehicles. As per plans, 84 more charging stations are in the pipeline set to be opened by the end of the year.
A special exhibition entitled Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (Wetex) 2015, is to bring to light the benefits of hybrid and electric cars as well as encourage automakers, engaged in building electric vehicles, to showcase their upcoming technologies and environment-friendly solutions. The event is scheduled to be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from April 21 to 23.