Car manufacturer Renault says the UAE needs more charging points for electric cars in order to give them better range.
The company has sold 35 of its recently launched two-seater Twizys car in Dubai. At a cost of AED69,000, the car has a range of 80km on a full charge, not enough to travel between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
DEWA announced earlier this year that it would be installing 100 new charge points around Dubai, and is working with airports, malls, petrol stations and car parks to deliver even more.
Renault Middle East marketing director Benoit Turibe said if UAE authorities followed the example of some European countries and incentivised the purchase of electric cars, more people would buy them, thereby cutting down on emissions.
“In France, the government pays about 8,000 Euros (Dhs36,000) when a person wants to buy an electric car. There are also free parking spaces given to the drivers of electric cars,” he told 7Days newspaper.
“If people are given financial incentives, sales can increase. Eventually electric cars will become a trend in this country,” he added.
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