As environmental awareness and responsibility toward a more sustainable future increase, the UAE government and citizens are eager to bring in all-electric vehicles and hybrid cars. As more people are switching to Electric Vehicles, the number of registered EVs has increased from 71 cars on 31st December 2015 to 5,107 as of 31st January 2022.
To promote green mobility in the UAE, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is developing innovative technologies to offer more than 530 charging points in Dubai. DEWA’s EV Green Charger initiative has provided more than 8,800 megawatt-hours as of 2022.
Under its Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative, the United Arab Emirates is making efforts to shift to green technologies, and they plan to invest AED 600 billion in renewable energy in the coming three decades.
How Electric Vehicles and Hybrid cars differ
Before switching to Electric Vehicles and Hybrid cars, it is important to know how they differ from hybrid cars.
As the US Department of Energy explains, “All-electric vehicles (EVs), also referred to as battery electric vehicles, have an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine. The vehicle uses a large traction battery pack to power the electric motor and must be plugged into a wall outlet or charging equipment, also called electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). Because it runs on electricity, the vehicle emits no exhaust from a tailpipe and does not contain the typical liquid fuel components, such as a fuel pump, fuel line, or fuel tank.”
In terms of speed, electric cars are not as fast as regular cars, but new technology and research will soon close that gap. EVs are excellent when it comes to ease, comfort, and superior features. Most importantly, they emit much less harmful greenhouse gases compared to regular cars.
As per the US Department of Energy hybrid cars “are powered by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, which uses energy stored in batteries. A hybrid electric vehicle cannot be plugged in to charge the battery. Instead, the battery is charged through regenerative braking and by the internal combustion engine.”
If your main concern is sustainability and preservation of the environment, then EVs are clearly better than hybrids since hybrids rely on petrol and diesel similar to regular cars.
Benefits of Electric Vehicles and Hybrid cars
Besides cutting emissions and meeting sustainability goals, switching to Electric Vehicles can provide other benefits too.
EVs Save You Money
As fuel prices increase, more people are switching to Electric Vehicles and Hybrid cars for their daily use. EVs have low maintenance costs compared to regular cars. Battery-powered electric vehicles have no gasoline engine – thus no need for oil changes, timing belts, or spark plugs. Electric motors required no routine maintenance like gasoline motors.
Some people think EV batteries aren’t durable and need replacing all the time. This is a myth because the batteries can only be prematurely worn out if they are incorrectly charged. When you buy or rent an EV, speak to the retailer to confirm the proper way to charge the battery.
Moreover, EVs depreciate in value slower than conventional cars and have high resale value.
Reduced Fuel Cost
Hybrids use less petrol or diesel than regular cars while EVs use none at all, cutting your daily costs. The same journey costs less in EVs and hybrid cars. Your personal commute and daily usage matter a lot.
At lower speeds (up to 60 km per hour), hybrid cars will run only on their electric motor, so they will not burn petrol, making them useful when traveling through towns and villages. EVs and Hybrids have stop-start technology and switch off their engines at red lights, thus making them useful when driving in traffic. You won’t be burning fuel while sitting still in traffic and the power from the battery will keep your AC on.
Hybrid cars do better on city streets while standard cars tend to get better mileage on the highway. Electric cars have a shorter driving range than regular cars, but they are smooth, quiet, and require less maintenance.
Other Benefits
As the need for sustainability and preserving the environment grows, many car manufacturers have started to offer a wide variety of Electric Vehicles and hybrid cars. Now everyone who is thinking of switching to Electric Vehicles can find an environment-friendly car of their liking and budget.
EVs emit less amount of greenhouse gases which is very useful on urban roads where congested traffic creates smog and carbon pollutants. Lower emissions mean paying lower taxes. While EVs and hybrid cars cost more than a normal car, government tax incentives favor those who buy environment-friendly vehicles.
Most electric vehicles and hybrid cars come with “driving tutor” systems which help you to adopt good driving habits while avoiding high revs.
Conclusion
Hybrids are an expensive option compared to regular cars and EVs cost even more. This is due to their R&D costs, materials used, and construction process. However, the running cost is usually cheaper than petrol and diesel cars. Besides sustainability benefits, you’ll also save more money in the long run when you buy or rent hybrids and EVs.
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