ION to launch EV ride-hailing service in Sharjah by year-end
SHARJAH, September 10, 2020
The Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) said it has partnered with the UAE-based sustainable mobility solutions company ION to launch a new on-demand ride-hailing service in Sharjah by the year-end.
The service, which will boast a fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) including Tesla Model S and Model 3, will first be available to the emirate and then will expand to the rest of the UAE.
The announcement coincides with World Electric Vehicle Day, a day marked to recognise the importance of global e-mobility.
Electric vehicles produce fewer lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and exhaust emissions than convention vehicles, which help to improve air quality in urban centres.
Through its services, ION’s fleet of electric vehicles has covered 2.3 million km to date, offsetting over 13,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
In addition, ION will take all necessary precautions such as the disinfection of vehicles pre- and post-rides will be taken to ensure passengers are safe. ION’s drivers are also highly qualified, and 40 percent of ION’s drivers are female. They will also offer culturally appropriate transport and assurance for family-oriented commuters.
On the new service, SRTA Chairman Yousef Saleh Al Suwaiji said it relies on clean energy whenever possible in support of the UAE leadership’s initiatives to transition towards a green economy and sustainable development.
"This will only happen by adopting and embracing sustainable innovations in the field of transportation, which will contribute to achieving our plan towards an environmentally and civilised sustainable transfer," noted Al Suwaiji.
"To achieve more energy-efficient transportation systems, which contribute to reducing carbon emissions from traditional fuels, the authority also operates 750 hybrid taxis that operate with electricity and gasoline, which contributed to reducing the percentage of pollutants and carbon emissions in Sharjah," he added.
ION Chairman Khaled Al Huraimel said: "Through this partnership, we are combining our expertise with a wider mobility network to help raise a more sustainable quality of life for residents in Sharjah."
"During the coronavirus pandemic, ION’s electric vehicles and drivers were deployed, pro bono, for the quick transport of Sharjah Medical District’s doctors to facilitate home visits and Covid-19 testing around the clock," remarked Al Huraimel, also the Group CEO of Bee’ah.
ION is also working to develop the UAE’s infrastructure for mainstream electric vehicle adoption by setting up public charging stations across Sharjah, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
