With the 2020 World Expo looming large on the horizon now more than ever is the UAE’s opportunity to showcase it’s vison of what can be. The World Expo(formerly know as the World’s Fair) has a great history of being a showcase for great infrastucture projects. One of the keys to the future of transportation and energy is renewable energy and another is the electric car.
The Middle East is not only rich in oil it is also rich in sun. Solar power is a fast growing sector in the energy market and it is just as abundant as the black stuff that comes from the ground. Energy diversity is fundamental to the future of every nation and cheap transportation is vital to economic growth and reducing the cost of goods.
With a network of solar powered recharging stations for electric cars the people of Dubai would have near unlimited mobility in the form of electric and hybrid vehicles. The up side to these types of cars is not limited to their lower carbon foot print or their greater efficiency but with cars like the Tesla there is also a lower quantity of moving parts and less maintenance.
As more car manufactures move to produce a wider range of offerings in the hybrid/electric category we will see a larger quantity of these machines on the road. Along with the increase of usage of any new product comes the need for the accessories and support. While cars like the Toyota Prius +, the Honda Insight and Ford Fiesta Ecoboost may not be driven by the people who can influence this kind of change the Tesla Model S, Cadillac ELR and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive, are.
It is only a matter of time before there is an electric or hybrid option from every manufacturer in every price category. The countries who embrace this future now will be the ones who not only drive the market today but lead it in the future. The electric car is here, the question now is how long until the infrastructure is in place to embrace it and allow us to take full advantage of it. With the 2020 Expo coming up quick I say there is no better time than now and with a country that can build an island this should be a relatively simple task.
