Dubai limos go green

About 90% of Dubai’s limousine fleet will be hybrid (65%) and electric (25%) by 2026.

That will build the present fleet from 6% green limos to 10% by 2020, doubling to 20% in 2021, according to an initiative endorsed by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) executive directors board.

The seven-year plan has been introduced under the directives of Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to save power consumption in the United Arab Emirates which is focussing on environmental sustainability and development projects, the Middle East North Africa Financial Network (MENAFN

) reports.

“It also fosters a safe, clean and sustainable environment that will leverage the profile of Dubai. In addition, it contributes to the Dubai Government initiative to introduce green vehicles for a cleaner environment,” RTA executive directors board chairman Mattar Al Tayer says.

“The step is part of a master plan to curb carbon emissions of taxis and limos by 2% as required by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and the Green Economy drive.”

Al Tayer says nearly 6500 limos operate in Dubai through more than 100 companies, each vehicle covering about 400km daily and producing about 44 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

Savings using EVs amount to NZ$8610 (20,000 United Arab Emirates dirham – AED) over each vehicle’s life cycle, while hybrid vehicle savings of NZ$12,242 (AED30,000) are expected, MENAFN says.

EVs have zero emissions while hybrid vehicles cut emissions by 40%.

RTA is offering incentives for EV use including using bus-only lanes.

About half of Dubai’s taxi fleet will also be hybrids by 2021, reaching about 4750 such vehicles.

Hybrids comprise about 28% of Dubai’s taxi fleet, the largest operator being the Dubai Taxi Corporation which runs 2280 hybrids.