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Dubai: Environment-friendly hybrid vehicles will be used in Dubai as taxis and public buses as part of the government's plans to reduce vehicle emission levels.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Thursday signed an agreement with US-based General Motors (GM) to operate at least 10 hybrid vehicles from January.
The vehicles have dual-mode engines that run on petrol and electricity.
"We will start a trial of 10 GM hybrid taxis, five Chevrolet Tahoe and five Chevrolet Malibu vehicles," said Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA.
Training
The trial run will last one year during which GM will provide technical training on safety and other aspects to 15 RTA technicians and 40 Dubai taxi drivers.
"This step is set to pave the way for hybrid public buses to follow suit," he said, adding that the RTA would gradually introduce hybrid taxis and buses to its fleet.
He said that environment-friendly vehicles are being introduced in line with the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to work towards a safe, clean, attractive and sustainable environment.
He said there would be no impact on the fare structure for passengers, although the hybrid vehicles are 25 per cent more expensive.
He said that five hybrid buses would also join the Dubai Public transport fleet next year.
Currently, the public transport fleet includes 80 buses equipped with environment-friendly engines. From February next year, new buses fitted with environment-friendly Euro 4 engines will arrive in Dubai.
"We hope that new initiatives will contribute to reducing pollution from vehicle exhausts," said Al Tayer.
He added that the RTA would also join hands with Dubai Municipality and the police to control vehicle emissions.
"This is the first agreement in the region to test innovative hybrid technology vehicles in Dubai, positioning the emirate as the region's pioneers in energy diversity.
"Together, we are partnering to bring cutting edge technology to a cutting edge society," Maureen Kempston Darkes, GM Group Vice-President and President of GM Latin American, Africa and Middle East, said.
She said that the agreement was important for both parties as it reflected their efforts to reduce the impact of emissions on the environment.
Speaking to Gulf News, Paul Sutphin, US Consul General in Dubai, said the agreement between the RTA and GM was another example of cooperation and it also showed Dubai was serious about improving the environment.
Fuel costs will be cut
Hybrid vehicles will help reduce fuel cost by 50 per cent and also produce 50 per cent less emissions, said Abdul Aziz Malek, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Taxi Agency at the RTA.
He said the vehicles run up to 60 km/h on electricity and for higher speeds switch to fuel.
He said the two-wheel-drive Taheo delivers 21 miles per gallon in the city, which is a 50 per cent improvement over its 5.3 litre non-hybrid sibling.
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