Electric vehicles are growing in popularity all over the world, and the United Arab Emirates is no exception to this trend, as Teslas are now an increasingly common sight on the region’s roads. A large number of motorists have been making the switch to electric cars in order to have a ride that is both more environmentally-friendly and more fuel-efficient. There are also a number of incentives for drivers to make the change to electric or hybrid vehicles, such as the likes of free charging, free parking and free Salik.
While not a new phenomenon, with electric cars having first been developed as far back as the 1870s, greater worries about climate change and sustainability have resulted in increasingly stringent emissions norms, leading more and more car manufacturers to produce electric vehicles. Once upon a time, the purchasing of electric and hybrid cars seemed to be solely the province of eccentrics, primarily because of worries about the availability of proper repairs and maintenance as well concerns about recharging and range.
However, the increased availability of recharging infrastructure and more technological innovations mean that this is no longer the case. As more and more electric vehicles start to appear in the country, the government is upping subsidies for owners of these types of car in a bid to encourage more people to make the switch from petrol cars and to gradually reduce the emirate’s carbon footprint. Furthermore, spare parts and insurance for electric cars are also becoming easier to acquire.
The Audi E-Tron Sportback is to be Audi’s first completely electric model, though the company has already launched a number of plug-in electric hybrids in the UAE and elsewhere. This five-seater has the styling of an SUV with a lengthier body and offers a 250-mile range, and with Ingolstadt rapid charging capacity of 150kW, it takes just half an hour to fully recharge. The model also includes a number of innovative technologies such as two charging ports on each of its front flanks and cameras instead of side mirrors.
Also coming to the UAE later in the year is the Aston Martin Rapide E, an all-electric variant of the original Aston Martin Rapide that is set to be the height of luxurious sedan models. It will also be the first electric car to feature an 800-volt battery system, capable of producing as many as 65 kW-hours and facilitate a charging rate of 185mph with the use of a 50kW charger that can be used with a 400-volt outlet. Maximum charging will take just one hour.
Also coming is the Porsche Taycan, the German car maker’s first electric vehicle. As is the case with all Porsche models, the car offers a stimulating motoring experience thanks to permanently synchronous motors able to generate more than 600hp, allowing it to go from 0 to 62mph in under 3.5 seconds.
Anyone in the UAE who is considering selling their current vehicle and switching to an electric car will soon have a number of luxurious all-electric models to choose from in the region over the next few months. Anyone purchasing any of these will need car insurance to prepare for issues such as theft or damage and injuries as a result of accidents.