A few years ago, I was invited to the launch of a new electric vehicle in Oman. At the time, EVs still felt like something for the future rather than the present. The conversation was largely driven by Tesla, although Chinese manufacturers and established luxury brands were already beginning to enter the space with serious intent.
Around the same time, a friend bought his first electric vehicle. From his perspective, it made perfect sense. Most of his driving was around Muscat. He charged at home, occasionally topped up at shopping malls or hotels and rarely worried about range. For him, the savings on fuel and maintenance alone made the switch worthwhile.
I could never quite see it the same way.
I enjoy driving long distances. A weekend run to Sur is one thing. Sometimes I find myself continuing further to Jaalan Bani Bu Ali or beyond. The thought of having to constantly think about charging stops felt inconvenient. That concern, often called "range anxiety", remains one of the biggest barriers for many potential buyers.
Yet the conversation around electric vehicles is changing rapidly. As fuel prices fluctuate amidst geopolitical tensions, more people are beginning to revisit the idea. Friends who once dismissed EVs outright are now comparing models, calculating fuel savings and asking practical questions about ownership.
The numbers suggest momentum is building. Oman now has around 2,200 electric vehicles on its roads, supported by approximately 160 charging stations. Government plans aim to expand that network to more than 350 charging stations by 2027.
Still, there are blind spots worth considering. The debate often focuses on fuel savings, but less attention is paid to battery replacement costs, resale values, charging times and the impact of extreme temperatures on battery performance. Oman has made progress in urban areas, yet highway charging infrastructure remains limited compared to traditional petrol stations.
Then there is the question many people quietly ask: what happens when everyone plugs in? As adoption grows, electricity demand and grid capacity will become increasingly important discussions.
Even so, I find myself leaning more towards electric vehicles than I did a few years ago. The technology has improved, charging networks are expanding and the economics are becoming harder to ignore.
I am not ready to make the switch just yet.
But for the first time, I am no longer ruling it out. Would you consider an electric vehicle for your next car, or is range anxiety still holding you back?
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
