It's electric! Petrol vehicles could go off roads in 8 years

Big auto and big oil will be hit as e-cars rule: Study

We've been told that electric cars and self-driving vehicles are the future of transport. But they could be here sooner than we think. Petrol cars, trucks and buses will be driven off the roads within eight years, says a new study by Stanford University.

That's because electric vehicles will be cheaper to operate and improvements in technology will ensure they run longer - for 400 kilometres on a single battery charge. Car dealerships and petrol stations are expected to disappear by 2024, according to the study by Stanford economist Tony Seba.

These vehicles will be more reliable and efficient, and would be able to drive 500,000 to a  million miles during their lifetimes. Seba says people will stop driving altogether and those holding on to their petrol cars will find it hard to sell them.

The tipping point is close, very close, when prices of electric cars begin to fall and e-car batteries last longer than 200 miles.

The UAE and other countries have already seen this disruption coming. Last week, the Ministry of Energy launched a programme to encourage motorists to use electric vehicles. Government department vehicles also plan to shift to 20 per cent electric by 2020.

Tesla motors founder Elon Musk signed a deal with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority for 200 electric cars in February as the company makes a big push into the country with its green vehicles.

Dubai has already rolled out its Smart Autonomous Mobility Strategy which will make 25 per cent of total journeys autonomous by 2030. As part of this strategy, government institutions must purchase 10 per cent hybrid or electric vehicles.

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Tesla Launches in the UAE with Model S and Model X

Tesla today will begin accepting online orders for Model S and Model X in the UAE. Customers in the UAE can now visit the online design studio to customize and order the Tesla vehicle that best suits their lifestyle. First orders of Model S and Model X vehicles are expected to be delivered in Dubai this summer.

The launch of the UAE’s dedicated online platform is supported by a pop-up store in The Dubai Mall, Tesla Ranger se...rvice and a service centre now under construction near Interchange Two of Sheikh Zayed Road which will open in July. The store will provide an opportunity for customers to experience Tesla and learn about the benefits of Tesla ownership. In addition to Dubai, Tesla will open a store and service centre in Abu Dhabi next year.

Tesla has designed the most sophisticated electric vehicle charging network in the world, the Supercharger and Destination charging network, so owners can travel wherever and whenever they want. Tesla has opened two Supercharging locations at The Last Exit in Jebel Ali and in Masdar City, allowing drivers to recharge their vehicles in minutes rather than hours. By the end of the year, Tesla will open five additional Supercharger locations, enabling long distance travel across every route into and out of the country. The UAE is already home to a number of Tesla’s Destination chargers, which are available at 26 locations across the UAE, including hotels and shopping malls. Tesla will add more than 50 additional Destination charging locations by the end of the year.

With an industry leading NEDC range of up to 632 km, Tesla’s award-winning Model S is designed from the ground up to be the safest, most exhilarating car on the road. Model S delivers unparalleled performance through Tesla’s unique, all-electric powertrain and accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in just 2.7 seconds.

Model X is the safest, fastest and most capable sport utility vehicle on the road. With standard all-wheel drive and up to 565 km of range (NEDC) on a single charge, Model X fits an active lifestyle and includes ample seating for seven adults and all of their gear. Model X is incredibly fast, accelerating from zero to 100 kph in as quickly as 3.1 seconds.

Prices start from AED 275,000 for Model S and AED 344,000 for Model X.

Dubai – MENA Herald: HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, were present at the launch of the Demand Side Management programme by the Supreme Council of Energy at an event at the Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights hotel in Dubai.
The ceremony was attended by HE Dr Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, HE Hussein Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, HE Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, HE Mohammed Abdulla Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), HE Abdullah Abdul Qader Yousef Al Muaini, Director General of the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA), HE Ali bin Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of the Regulatory and Supervisory Bureau (RSB) for electricity and water in Dubai, HE Saif Humaid Al Falasi, CEO of the Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), and other senior directors and officials from public and private organisations .
“In accordance with the directives of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and his brother HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, we are gathered today to celebrate this great announcement,” said Al Tayer in his speech at the launch.
“We are working to achieve the UAE Vision 2021, to transform the UAE into one of the best countries in the world by 2021, and the Dubai Plan 2021, to transform Dubai into a smart, integrated, and connected city that sustainably manages its resources in a healthy and sustainable environment. Dubai is addressing energy security issues, rationalising consumption and enhancing energy efficiency as priorities for sustainable development,” said Al Tayer.
“I am pleased to announce the launch of the Demand Side Management programme, which will be managed by Etihad ESCO within the framework of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy. This programme will provide internal consulting and management support to programme owners to address the relevant challenges needed to translate strategy into reality. We are proud of the achievements made by Dubai, and by the UAE as a whole. We are moving forward according to a clear vision for sustainability, while actively developing our future plans and objectives. The Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 aims to diversify Dubai’s energy mix and increase the employment of clean energy sources to 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050.
This strategy relies on innovation, and Research and Development (R&D) as the basis for the future of energy, preparing the plans and initiatives to make developments in science and technology. Dubai is the only city in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to launch such a promising strategy, with specific targets and deadlines that outlines the future of energy until 2050,” he added.

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