A new network of over 18 state-of-the-art charging points will be established to power the convoy of electric vehicles taking part in the 2018 Electric Vehicle Road Trip (EVRT) Middle East, said GreenParking, Global EVRT’s official charging station partner.

Dubai-based GreenParking, the one-stop-shop in the Middle East for all parking solutions, will oversee supply and construction of the stations and other essential infrastructure along the 1,217-km drive, taking place from January 18 to January 26.

The EVRT Middle East event is being made possible through innovative collaborations with private firms such as GreenParking, said a statement.

Chevrolet is providing its first electric model in the region, the Chevrolet Bolt EV for the huge road trip and the Sustainable City Dubai will host a huge family fun day to celebrate the end of the trip, it said.

The new charging stations will be set up at key locations in the UAE and Oman, including IHG hotels: Crowne Plaza Yas Island, Crowne Plaza Sohar, Crowne Plaza Muscat, InterContinental Muscat and InterContinental Fujairah, where they will remain as a permanent fixture and expand on the current EV infrastructure to enable more people to make the switch from petrol cars, it added.

Sam Alawiye, CEO of GreenParking, said: “The event is an important step towards bringing zero emission vehicles to the forefront of the public’s attention and our extended charging station network will help to showcase these fantastic cars as sustainable and practical alternatives to petrol vehicles.”

“Electric vehicles are the future of transport and they will soon be a common sight on the UAE’s roads,” he said.

“We are delighted to be helping to lay the foundations for a revolution in transport in the Middle East and beyond and delighted to be part of the EVRT Middle East,” he added.

The new stations will be officially opened as the cars taking part in the EVRT Middle East reach the locations in Abu Dhabi, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah as well as Sohar and Muscat in Oman, said a statement.  

Chevrolet, the official electric vehicle partner for the EVRT Middle East 2018, will be providing three new Chevrolet Bolt EV models to EVRT Road Trippers offering them a chance to get an exclusive desert test drive a year before it goes on sale in the region, it said.

Gary West, urban active operations manager, GM International, said: “The demand for electric vehicles is expanding globally each year, and the UAE is well positioned to be a strong market for low emission cars thanks to events such as the EVRT Middle East.”

“At Chevrolet, we are proud to bring the Chevrolet Bolt EV to the region, which we know will form the backbone of the electric vehicle fleet,” he said.

“The road trip will give car enthusiasts their first look at our new Chevrolet Bolt EV, which combines a host of innovative technologies with an unprecedented driving range of over 500 kilometres. With these outstanding green credentials, we have demonstrated our commitment to playing a major role in the next chapter of the Middle East EV story,” he added.

Setting off from Abu Dhabi on January 18, the EVRT Middle East convoy will explore the open roads of the UAE and Oman before stopping at sites of outstanding natural beauty and important sustainable energy projects before reaching its final destination at The Sustainable City in Dubai on January 26th.

Ben Pullen, managing director of Global EVRT, said: “By establishing a new, extended network of charging stations across this tough, 1,217km route we are demonstrating that these cars are not just environmentally friendly options for the future, they are real options for car buyers right now, with innovative gadgets and technology to excite and impress.”

“Driving an electric vehicle during the road trip is the perfect way to fully appreciate the capabilities of the technology that is shaping the future of transport and to see first-hand how well the cars handle the open road, especially over long distances,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service