The 2024 Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit (Evis) taking place in Abu Dhabi comes at a critical time as the world seeks to reach net zero emissions by the year 2050, the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure’s undersecretary for energy and petroleum affairs said on Monday.
“As government, we play an active role in increasing the penetration of electric vehicles, by building and integrated, robust and accessible charging network linking all the seven emirates,” Sharif Al Olama said, noting that currently, 3 per cent of all vehicles on UAE roads are electric and hybrid.
“Our aim is to increase the speed and pace of the shift to green mobility through raising the share of EVs to 50 per cent of all vehicles on our roads by the year 2050,” he explained, referencing details of the National Electric Vehicles Policy approved by the UAE Cabinet in 2023.
"An all inclusive decarbonisation drive is a must to reach out collective goal, and that means promoting green mobility and reducing CO2 emissions from the transportation sector," he added.
Also announced on the first of a three-day summit was a joint venture between the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) and Etihad Water and Electricity (Etihad We), called UAEV, a charging network fully owned and operated by the government.
Prototypes of UAEV's electric chargers were visible on the exhibition floor packed with products from the electric vehicle sector.
"UAEV charging infrastructure will contribute to the modernisation of the UAE’s transport network, and help energise communities by creating new jobs, and empower our customers to make more sustainable choices," said Yousif Ahmed Al Ali, chief executive of Etihad Water and Electricity.
Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, reflected on the long-term hopes of the announcement.
“UAEV embodies the power of partnership between government and industry, and aims to provide vital electric vehicle infrastructure to boost adoption of EVs, energise communities and unleash the economic potential of the UAE," he said.
More details about the UAEV charging stations and infrastructure project are expected to be announced by the end of 2024.
In addition to a backdrop of unprecedented climate concern, the 2024 gathering of electric vehicle manufacturers, battery and charging companies comes at a time of tremendous growth and competition throughout the electric transport industry.
The exhibition, on the third occasion it has been staged, seeks to increase dialogue on challenges faced by electric mobility sector.
"We are encouraged by the continued collaboration of industry leaders, policymakers and stakeholders gathered here," Mr Al Olama said.
While the consumer sector of the EV market receives most of the overall attention, recently, electric freight technology has also made headlines.
In the UAE, global ports operator DP World and electric freight mobility company Einride recently announced a partnership that will result in the Middle East’s largest fleet of driverless electric cargo vehicles.
In 2023, Einride also signed an agreement with the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in 2023 that will result in a 550km “Falcon Rise” freight mobility grid, with the eventual aim of enabling the use of electric and autonomous vehicles.
Heiko Seitz, Global & Middle East eMobility Leader, PwC, said that both the UAE and Saudi Arabia were "wave II" countries in terms of electric vehicle adoption, while other areas like the US, China and Europe were "wave I".
"The UAE and Saudi Arabia are in a good position of being able to identify what worked and what didn't work compared to those other countries," he said, noting the potential advantages that lie ahead on the road to EV adoption.
"While they're 10 years behind, you're going to see this region come EV maturity much faster compared to other regions because you can skip the learning curve," he said.
As a result, the EV ecosystem in the Middle East, according to Mr Seitz, will be one that's more rapidly evolving, more profitable, and customer-centric ecosystem.
More than 200 exhibitors representing at least 50 countries are taking part in 2024’s Evis. According to organisers, more than 300 delegates and 110 speakers took part as well.
Lucid, Tam Motors, Chery and Zeekr were just some of the EV companies showcasing their automotive product lines at the exhibition.
Tesla, often viewed as one of the pioneering EV companies, was also present at Evis.
Though once seen as seemingly invincible, back in January, Tesla briefly lost the title as world’s largest EV seller to China’s BYD.
It also faces tough competition from companies like Rivian Automotive and Lucid Motors, as well traditional car makers which have also entered the EV market in recent years.
In April, after missing first quarter earnings expectations, the Texas-based electric vehicle manufacturer announced a renewed push for making “affordable” vehicles and company-wide cost-cutting measures.
That fierce competition, said Mr Seitz, might hurt profit margins, but ultimately will help with EV adoption.
"With more and more models coming in from different companies around the world, you're going to see the total cost of EV ownership go down," he said.
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Ultra processed foods
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars;
- energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes,
- many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts.
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
MATCH INFO
Everton 0
Manchester City 2 (Laporte 45 2', Jesus 90 7')
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
Secret Nation: The Hidden Armenians of Turkey
Avedis Hadjian, (IB Tauris)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EQureos%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E33%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESoftware%20and%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%243%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
Several pillars more than 20 metres high will support the structure
Roughly 15 tonnes of steel will be used
Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results:
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1.400m | Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Saab, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,600m | Winner: Majd Al Gharbia, Saif Al Balushi, Ridha ben Attia
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed Dh 180,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Money To Burn, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh 70,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Kafu, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 2,400m | Winner: Brass Ring, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
