After nine days, 2,000 kilometres, two countries, over 20 new charging points, and countless thrills, the 2018 edition of the Electric Vehicle Road Trip (EVRT) Middle East came to an end last week. The grand finale event, the e-Mobility Showcasing Day, provided the perfect podium to celebrate and discover more about electric cars, eco-friendly technologies and sustainable living, while also welcoming home the convoy and its achievements from the longest road trip in the Middle East — all without using a single drop of petrol.
The trip included driving out into the Abu Dhabi desert to Madinat Zayed before driving to Suhar in Oman and then Muscat, setting up discussions with key government and industry officials, like Nama Group, who supported the charging stations built by GreenParking and sponsored the road trip as well as Global EVRT’s The Future of Mobility Roundtable Muscat, the first event of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman.
The 2018 event also leaves a lasting legacy for the future of electric mobility in the region through a new network of permanent charging stations established along the route by GreenParking, including some of the first charging points in Oman at various IHG Crowne Plaza and Intercontinental Hotels as well as in the UAE.
When the convoy reached Ras Al Khamiah Race Track, the first ever EV vs. Petrol drag race was held in the UAE. The Tesla S85D model was victorious, with three wins to EV, by racing legend Doug Herbert and celebrity Supercar Blondie, and one win to petrol (due to a false start), all before passing through Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and Sharjah before finally arriving in Dubai.
Ben Pullen, Managing Director of Global EVRT said: “Electric vehicles are a key part of the future of mobility and transportation in the Middle East and we’re proud to leave a lasting legacy in the new network of state-of-the-art charging stations built along the route of the 2018 edition of EVRT Middle East to compliment the ongoing efforts of the government and private organisations.”
“Our mission to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles for the creation of smart and sustainable societies is now a reality, thanks to the foundations laid by the UAE and Oman government, and our key partners, like Chevrolet, Nama Group, Emirates NBD, The Sustainable City, GreenParking and IHG, which helped provide and build the infrastructure needed to make our event a success, and we look forward to working closely with them to bring an even bigger and more exciting event to the region next year.”
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