Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
From rolling out green buses to bolstering its charging infrastructure to encourage a shift to EV, Abu Dhabi reaffirmed its commitment to greening its transport sector during the Electric Vehicles Innovation Summit (EVIS 2025).
The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) showcased the emirate’s milestones in sustainable mobility as the EVIS 2025 kicked off on Monday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
"One of our key projects is the Green Bus Programme — it is unique in the region. We have collaborated with top technology providers and bus manufacturers to tackle climate-related challenges, especially those specific to Abu Dhabi like heat and humidity,” said Anan Alamri, Section Head of Alternative and Sustainable Mobility at Abu Dhabi Mobility, in an interview with Aletihad.
The Green Bus passenger service was officially launched in September 2023 with electric and hydrogen buses and, currently, the technologies are being assessed. The findings, which are expected by mid-2025, will pave the way for a comprehensive plan towards the emirate’s long-term goal of turning the public transport sector green.
“By 2030, Abu Dhabi Island will become a fully green public transport zone. Then by 2040, 95% of our public transport across the emirate will be green. We are targeting full conversion — 100% — by 2050,” Alamri said.
The Green Bus Programme is a project built on partnerships with local and international players, added Eng. Abdullah Al Shatri Al Hashemi, Acting Executive Director of the Intelligent Transport Systems Sector.
“It involves the deployment of a modern fleet of electric and hydrogen-powered buses. The first phase focuses on key areas of Abu Dhabi Island, with plans to fully transform it into a green mobility zone. Future expansions are planned across the emirate in support of our long-term sustainability targets,” Al Hashemi said.
At its booth, Abu Dhabi Mobility is showcasing the Yutong E7S electric bus, which will be tested for the Abu Dhabi Link service.
One bus will be deployed to Saadiyat Island and the other to Yas Island, each covering 280km and completing about 50 trips daily with one to two charging sessions.
As part of the EV bus project, AI is also being used to boost the efficiency of operations, from depot charging to route planning and performance monitoring. This, the authorities said, are making the system smarter and more sustainable.
Bolstering Charging Infrastructure
Abu Dhabi is tackling EV adoption challenges through strategic planning and collaboration. With charging as one of the main issues, Abu Dhabi Mobility rolled out ‘Charge AD’ as one of its major projects.
"'Charge AD' is focused on building a unified, user-friendly public charging network that is digitally connected and supported by private sector partners,” Alamri said.
“As of March 2024, we have installed 313 public charging points. We have also seen a significant growth in EV ownership — an 81% increase between 2022 and 2023.”
Under this project, Abu Dhabi Mobility will deploy over 1,000 EV charge-points across 400 locations by October 2025, featuring a mix of AC and superfast DC chargers.
Integrated into a digital platform for real-time tracking, this initiative aligns with the UAE's Net Zero 2050 strategy.
“With a strategic vision that engages the private sector and provides a unified digital experience, we aim to enhance service efficiency and support the mass shift toward sustainable mobility,” Al Hashemi said.
Elaborating on the 81% spike in EV numbers between 2022 and 2023, he said that more than 11,000 hybrids and 10,000 EVs have registered by March 2024.
Another innovative initiative in the spotlight is the authority’s Autonomous Vehicle Service, launched in 2021.
“The service has logged over five million kilometers with 99% autonomous operation and no human intervention. Powered by AI and high-definition maps, it meets the highest safety standards. Our goal is for 25% of all trips, including land and urban air mobility, to be fully autonomous by 2040,” Al Hashemi said.
