Electric, driverless cars to hit Dubai streets ‘in near future’, says RTA

RTA's the strategy involves both short-term plans and 'urgent steps' to be taken over the next 12 months, as well as long-term plans that look forward up to the year 2040

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Electric, driverless cars to hit Dubai streets 'in near future', says RTA

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has endorsed new testing standards for electric, hybrid and self-driving vehicles to ensure that the emirate plays a “pioneering” role in their development and see that they are on the streets of Dubai “in the near future”, it was announced on Monday.

In a statement, Abdullah Yousef Al Ali, the CEO of RTA’s Licensing Agency, said that 66 workshops have been held “with vehicle manufacturers, approved testing centres in Dubai and consultancy companies in the UAE to review these standards and share knowledge and ideas about them.”

“During these workshops, the responsibilities of each party were clearly defined and plans were developed to ensure the successful implementation,” he added.

For electric and hybrid vehicles, Al Ali added, the RTA has set examined the key components of those vehicles such as high-voltage batteries, internal charging systems, circuit breakers and transformers.

“Universal standards have been set up for implementation by technical inspection centres across Dubai, which were briefed about the role of equipment manufacturers,” he said.

For self-driving vehicles, Al Ali said that the technical testing standards and related technologies will form a key prat of the infrastructure necessary for their deployment, which he said will take place “in the near future.”

According to the RTA, the strategy involves both short-term plans and “urgent steps” to be taken over the next 12 months, as well as long-term plans that look forward up to the year 2040. More

By Bernd Debusmann Jr  arabianbusiness.com