Abu Dhabi to tighten EV charging rules by applying unified tariff

A monthly tariff of $25.05 will be added to the bills of electric vehicle users from August 26 until a sub-meter is installed

An electric vehicle charging station in the UAE. Abu Dhabi now has 200 charging units. Reem Mohammed/The National

Abu Dhabi's Department of Energy is streamlining tariffs for charging electric vehicles, as the adoption of cleaner forms of transportation picks up.

A monthly tariff of Dh92 ($25.05) will be added to the bills of EV users in Abu Dhabi, from August 26 until a sub-meter is installed for the charging units, the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office said on Monday.

Once a meter is installed and the charging unit is registered, users will be charged at a rate of 30 fils per kilowatt-hour.

The newly approved governance framework for EVs requires the installation of sub-meters for charging units in private residences and commercial buildings.

The emirate, which accounts for the bulk of the UAE's oil production, is encouraging fewer emissions on the roads. The UAE capital now has 200 charging units.

"Abu Dhabi continues to take decisive actions to promote electrification as a critical route to drive the energy transition and achieve the emirate’s decarbonisation goals," Awaidha Al Marar, chairman of the Department of Energy, said.

"With transport being one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, EVs offer significant potential for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, improving air quality and also creating new industries," he added.

The new mandate implements a unified tariff for all registered units with consumption monitored by Abu Dhabi Distribution Company and Al Ain Distribution Company.

Abu Dhabi's EV owners can begin registering their cars from August 17, and have until December 31, 2021, to install a sub-meter for free.

Those who fail to do so will be subject to fines from the beginning of next year, the statement said.