Electric vehicles (EVs) are on the rise in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), with the market expected to reach US$7.65 billion by 2028, according to a recent study by Deloitte. This was the main topic of discussion at a high-level roundtable hosted by Sustainability Forum Middle East (SFME), a regional platform for net-zero solutions, in Manama on 4 March 2024.
The event, held in partnership with 1st Motors, a leading dealer of EVs in Bahrain, and Infracorp, a Lead Partner of SFME, brought together regional experts in transportation and sustainability to address the need to decarbonize the sector and the role of EVs in achieving net-zero emissions targets. The UN estimates that the transportation sector contributes 13% of total global greenhouse gas emissions and 23% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, with road traffic accounting for three-fourths of them.
The panelists explored the challenges and opportunities for promoting the adoption of EVs in the region, focusing on the aspects of technology, infrastructure, and policy. They also highlighted the growing demand from MENA consumers for electric mobility, driven by environmental awareness, cost savings, and performance benefits.
In conjunction with the roundtable, Infracorp also signed a partnership with Solar One Bahrain to operate the electric charging station for EVs in Bahrain Harbour, making it the first community to cater to EV owners. Infracorp’s Director of Development, Abdulaziz Tawfeeqi, said that the company was committed to driving positive change and supporting the growth of the infrastructure needed for EVs. He added that the decarbonisation of mobility was one essential component to a greener future.
First Motors’ Managing Director, Nawaf Khaled Al Zayani, said that the rapid growth of the EV market in Bahrain and the region represented an exciting opportunity for the industry to play an important role in supporting the government’s decarbonisation goals. He said that the customers were embracing electric mobility, and the company was working hard to provide them with a range of options and choices to help them make the shift.
SFME’s founder and organizer, Laila Danesh, said that the roundtable was the first in the Forum’s 2024 Decarbonisation Roundtable Series, which would take place throughout the region focusing on topics crucial to MENA’s net-zero journey. She said that the Forum was delighted to kick off the series with a look at the fast-growing regional EV market, which was an indication that green mobility was on the rise.
Leave a Reply