Electric Vehicle

UAE unveils first charging stations for electric vehicles

The initiative coincided with the recent Epic Dubai Sustainable Living Expo held at The Dubai Mall as part of this year’s Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS). Commenting on the launch, Denis R. Lefrancois, general manager of Epic Dubai, said: “We have witnessed a significant rise in the adoption of electric car technology in Dubai in response to the effective campaigns and tremendous efforts by government departments promoting the importance of sustainable transportation to improve public health and maintain a sustainable economic development.”

Yousif Mubarak, executive director-operations at Depe, hailed the initiative stressing that "it was a pioneering step that would pave the way for more similar initiatives in the future."

"Yes, electric cars are very limited in Dubai, but having a green parking at an important and popular venue such as Dubai Mall sends a strong message that the Government of Dubai is concerned about the environment,” Mubarak remarked. “It will raise awareness about this important issue to say the least,” he added.

The Dubai Mall, developed by Emaar Malls Group, is the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination located in Downtown Dubai, described as ‘The Centre of Now.’ The mall is spread over a total area of 12 million sq ft, and has a total internal floor area of 5.9 million sq ft, and 3.77 million sq ft of gross leasable space.

The charging stations, located on the third floor of the cinema and ice skating arena parking, are designed to encourage drivers to adopt the use of electric cars, reducing carbon footprint. It will also make it easier for electric cars enthusiasts to drive across Dubai and recharge their cars at The Dubai Mall while enjoying a fun day of shopping and entertainment.

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