Egyptian teacher turns his 1985 Fiat into an electric car - in pictures

Ali Al Saeed has made his mode of transport more environmentally friendly

Egyptian teacher Ali Al Saeed, 51, has turned his 1985 Fiat-127 into an electric car. All photos: Reuters

Amid rising fuel prices, Mr Al Saeed has changed to a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation.

Mr Al Saeed sits as his car charges in Cairo. He said there was a marked difference in cost between electric and petrol-powered cars.

He says a tank of petrol gives him 'three or four days, whereas the electric charge lasts for up to a week.

He says it cost him 60,000 Egyptian pounds ($3,000) to convert the car. He can do 100 kilometres at 70kph. The car takes two hours to charge.

"With increasing prices, the price of fuel needed for just two days has doubled," Mr Al Saeed said. "It was problematic for me because I use it a lot, I love to travel. It was hectic. Therefore, I started thinking of an alternative, to make an electric car that would benefit me and allow me to travel for longer commutes in the future, for 200 or 300 kilometres."

Over the past few years, Egypt has phased out subsidies on most fuel products as part of an IMF-backed economic reform programme. In July, Egypt further raised domestic fuel prices by 0.50 Egyptian pounds for 80-octane and 92-octane petrol, adding more pressure after inflation.

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