In October, Saudi Arabia announced that it will manufacture and export more than 150,000 electric cars in 2026. Car manufacturer Lightyear also announced in October that the world’s first production-ready solar car, the Lightyear0, will hit roads in the UAE from 2023 and, in March, Emirati company, Barq, introduced its electric delivery mopeds, specifically designed for the GCC market. The company has also developed an electric bicycle and drones. In this short-form listicle, we round up the major EV innovations and developments in the region. Collectively, how do they help the Middle East to achieve their sustainability goals?
Five ways the GCC is embracing the EV opportunity
E-tech waste collection
In May 2023, Abu Dhabi Waste Management company Tadweer unveiled its first all-electric waste collection vehicle, in partnership with Renault Trucks Middle East and Al Masaood Group. The eco-friendly D-Wide E-tech lorry is already in use in Europe, with both Paris and Barcelona integrating the vehicles into existing fleets. The lorries will contribute towards reducing more than 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, which is equivalent to removing 1,000 cars from the road. Highly efficient, with a fully charged range capacity of 200 kilometres, the vehicles will be used for household waste collection. As a first for the region, vehicle performance in the UAE’s high temperatures will be initially gauged through a pilot programme that will also examine logistical challenges such as the siting of charging stations along key routes.
All-electric delivery vehicles
UAE smart mobility company Barq EV, which also develops electric bicycles and drones, launched its first electric delivery vehicles in 2022. The Rena Max EV mopeds feature cooled handlebars, a temperature-controlled storage box, and a reflective windshield that offer riders sun protection. A smart dashboard allows location searches without the need to use a mobile device while the bike’s advanced electronic systems have been designed to capture and measure trip data, which can then be analysed to improve operational efficiencies. The mopeds are designed for delivery distances of up to 25 kilometres. Barq EV’s founders, Ahmed Al Mazroui, Abdullah Abu Sheikh and Mazen Al-Jubeir, have already signed an agreement with restaurant and food chain Americana to provide transport and logistical services, and with specialised automobile equipment global manufacturer Motherson to build and deliver its products. In Q4 2022 the company announced it had a signed a third agreement with Saudi Post (SPL) to design and produce next-generation delivery vans for fleet-wide use.
Local manufacturing opportunity
Saudi Arabia aims to have at least 30 per cent of all cars in the Kingdom electric powered by 2030 and Public Investment Fund (PIF)-backed Lucid Motors is preparing to roll out its first fully Saudi-assembled electric car by Q3 2023. The company, which is backed to the tune of an estimated $3.4 billion, spread over an agreed 15-year period, is currently building its first non-US production facility at King Abdullah Economic City. The plant will have annual capacity of up to 155,000 zero emission electric vehicles by 2026. The Saudi government has agreed with Lucid to buy up to 100,00 of its vehicles over the next decade with the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef, reporting that around 85 per cent of vehicles produced at the plant will be exported. Also backed by PIF, the Kingdom’s first homegrown EV brand, Ceer Motors, expects its first units to roll off the production line in 2025, with a target of 170,000 cars annually.
Smart mobility cities
Smart mobility strategies are powering future city transport models across the GCC, with Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects, including NEOM, Qiddiya and Roshn, among others, all planning to deploy EV fleets. Under its transportation master plan, NEOM aims to become a global leader in EV adoption with 100 per cent of its vehicles electric powered by 2030. Public Investment Fund (PIF) is investing heavily in supporting infrastructure with plans including the construction of electric vehicle charging stations, battery swapping stations, and other related infrastructure throughout the city. NEOM aims to have more than 4,000 electric vehicle charging stations in the city by 2030 and will also create incentives for residents and businesses to make the switch to electric vehicles. Neom’s EV strategy includes partnerships with leading automakers and technology companies to develop and test new technologies and services.
Tightening the recycling loop
End-of-life (EOL) recycling to support circular economy goals is an agenda-leading concern for the global EV industry. In the UAE, Sharjah-headquartered BEEAH Recycling is set to launch the country’s first EV EOL battery recycling facility with the Q1 2023 inking of an agreement with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI), and the American University of Sharjah (AUS). The parties will collaborate on the identification and application of world-class technologies for the EV battery recycling facility in order to help close the recycling loop. As an example, California-based Redwood Materials, which launched a pilot recycling programme in 2022, reports a a 95 per cent recovery rate in the first 12 months. The company uses non-extractive mining technology to ensure the cost-effective extraction of valuable materials such as lithium and nickel, helping pave the way for a circular economy. By 2050, the US’ National Renewable Energy Laboratory expects demand for EV battery-critical minerals, such as graphite, lithium and cobalt, to increase by 500 per cent.