Is it possible to rent an electric car in Dubai? The answer is a resounding YES, however there are some limitations. The Dubai and Abu Dhabi Governments have introduced several initiatives to encourage green cars. However, challenges still remain in this area.

How to rent an electric car in Dubai

First, contact us! We can help get the right electric car for your needs. The number of choices is slowly and steadily going up. Just recently Tesla announced it will be launching in Dubai. This means electric sports cars will be a reality soon! Send us an email at support@ejarcar.com and we will connect you with the right car at the right price.

Government Initiatives

According to Dubai Supreme Council of Energy website, cars procured by government agencies within few years will comprise 10% electric and hybrid vehicles. This means more emphasis will be given on buying green cars. DEWA took leadership in this area by procuring 13 electric vehicles for it’s fleet.

Masdar in Abu Dhabi is also working on a host of initiatives. These include encouraging universities to improve research, setting up charging stations and other initiatives.

Challenges and limitations

While a lot of commendable work has been done, a lot of challenges still remain. For example, residential buildings don’t have electric charging stations available. Some electric charging stations are available outdoors and the number is going up. However the real deal is to have electric charging stations in residential buildings. Without electric charging stations in residential buildings, car owners will have a hard time switching from regular cars to electric cars.

In addition to lack of charging opportunities, the technology also needs to improve. Most electrical charging systems take 20 minutes if you are outdoors. Indoor charging systems take over 6 hours. Compared to regular petrol, it is a tremendous amount of time. Car owners and renters have these two major hurdles to overcome (along with price) to ensure electric cars reach critical mass.