A convoy of over 10 electric vehicles will set out on a 700 km long road trip through all seven Emirates of the UAE 

• The road trip will begin on 29th January and will end on 1st February 2017
• The trip will unveil charging stations in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Abu Dhabi. 
• The fleet includes Tesla Model X and Model S’s, and other electric vehicles such as Renault Zoe and a Volkswagen Retrofitted Electric Car.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 11, 2017:  Global Electric Vehicle Road Trip (Global EVRT) makes its way to the UAE for the first time, launching the Emirates Electric Vehicle Road Trip (Emirates EVRT) in January 2017, with the aim to drive electric vehicle adoption and accelerate the transition towards a sustainable low-carbon future. The Emirates EVRT shares elements of the UAE Vision 2021 National Agenda, which focuses on improving quality of air, preserving water resources, increasing the contribution of clean energy, and implementing green growth plans in the UAE by 2021. 

The four-day event, from 29th January to 1st February 2017, will see a fleet of over 10 electric vehicles cover over 700km of terrain, showcasing the best of electric vehicle technology and the region’s clean-tech innovations. 

Tesla Model X and Model S’s, and other electric vehicles such as the Renault Zoe and a Volkswagen Retrofitted Electric Car, will transport 40 individuals around the UAE, unveiling new charging stations in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Abu Dhabi. The road trip starts in Dubai and ends at the Sustainable City in Dubai, visiting all seven Emirates to promote electric vehicles and sustainable living.

Commenting on the upcoming trip, Ben Pullen, Founder and Managing Director of Global EVRT says, “We are excited to finally bring the Electric Vehicle Road Trip to the Emirates. The UAE is a perfect place for this type of event as the government has taken effective steps towards a vision for the future of sustainable energy and transportation.  We hope to support the UAE's initiatives as we believe it will enable people to develop new beliefs around energy and the way we use it.”

He adds, “We believe in people, and believe they will make the right decisions when given the right information on energy and transport. Our aim is to continue growing our impact in countries all over the world, and after our two previous successful trips in London and Europe, we want to further inspire the global community and encourage the accessibility and use of electric vehicles as an alternative mode of transport.”

Exploring the UAE in the greenest fashion

The road trip is divided into two stages: Stage One (day one and two) will be a grand launch event where celebrity guest Robert Llewellyn of the Fully Charged Show will launch the Emirates Electric Vehicle Road trip and a collection of new charging stations being installed at the Marjan Island Hotel in Ras Al Khaimah.  Additional charging stations, supplied by Engie, will be installed at Novotel Hotel in Fujairah and Sofitel Corniche Hotel in Abu Dhabi, opening up the roads of the UAE to over 750km of electric vehicle driving.

For Stage Two (day three and four), there will be a tour of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, lunch at Bab Al Shams, and a stayover in the capital, Abu Dhabi, followed by the final drive back to Dubai.  The trip concludes with the finale event at The Sustainable City, which opens with the Emirates EVRT finishing line where the public can attend to celebrate the completion of the trip and meet the participants. For a selected audience, live discussions from experts will take place to explore the electric vehicle market in the UAE and why there is a need to transition to lower carbon transportation. The day will include electric vehicle experiences and city tours for the public, and finish with an electric vehicle parade around The Sustainable City, where all electric vehicle owners from across the GCC are invited to join for this momentous event.

The public can join the Emirates EVRT journey along the way by attending one of three ‘Evening with EVRT’ dinner events in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Abu Dhabi. Here they will be treated to unique electric vehicle experiences, gala dinners with guest speakers, attend the unveiling of new charging stations, and meet the road trip participants.

Faris Saeed, CEO of Diamond Developers who developed The Sustainable City says, “Our exciting partnership with Global EVRT is sure to capture the public’s imagination and is another expression of the sustainable concept delivered by our development. We actively promote the use of electric vehicles by providing an AED 10,000 grant for residents wishing to purchase an electric car, with charging stations attached to the city’s grid enabling residents to power up their vehicles on site. This scheme significantly reduces the total carbon footprint of the city and follows the Dubai Sustainability Council’s environmental agenda, to create a healthier Emirate with a low-carbon future.”

Since its inception in 2015, Global EVRT electric vehicles have travelled over 3,900km across London and Europe.  In the near future the event aims to cover even more terrain across Europe and take to the roads of the GCC, India, and China.

Emirates EVRT takes place in the UAE from Sunday 29th January - Wednesday 1st February 2017.

Accelerating electric vehicle adoption at the World Future Energy Summit 2017

Emirates EVRT will also participate in the 10th edition of the World Future Energy Summit, part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2017.  Taking place from Monday 16th – Thursday 19th January 2017, the stand will be located in Hall 8 at Stand 8440.

The team will be showcasing the cars that will take part in the Emirates EVRT 2017 including a Tesla Model S, Renault Zoe, and the Volkswagen Retrofitted Electric Car being used to travel from the Netherlands to Australia. They will also be running competitions on their social media channels giving away tickets to partake in the event.