PLANS are in full swing to install a further 20 new electric car charging stations across the kingdom by the end of this year, the Electricity and Water Affairs Ministry has revealed.
There are currently five in Bahrain – one at the Atrium Mall in Saar and the other four at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) – catering to 112 electric vehicles currently registered at the General Traffic Directorate in Bahrain.
The latest move to entice motorists to switch away from petrol and diesel engines were revealed by the Electricity and Water Affairs Ministry in a written response to a question by Shura Council member Talal Al Mannai.
“The ministry had launched a tender through the Tender Board to develop a strategy for electric vehicles in Bahrain,” it said in its written response.
“One of the most important objectives is developing policies, regulations and infrastructure required for electric vehicles and chargers which will contribute to encouraging and increasing public awareness about adopting these vehicles as part of a more sustainable lifestyle.
“The standard specifications for electric vehicles have been approved by the Industry and Commerce Ministry in accordance with the specification for electric chargers, as well as technical regulations for electric vehicles.”
Confidence
Once operational cost conscious car buyers will be able to choose an electric alternative in confidence and in the knowledge that going electric will be cheaper in the long run.
According to the ministry, conformity assessment procedures prior to, during and after import will also be conducted on both electric vehicles and the charging ports.
The GDN previously reported that Bahrain is accelerating its ambitious plan to encourage the sustainable uptake of electric vehicles by signing an agreement with global advisory company Deloitte Touche to develop a strategy to help reduce the kingdom’s reliance on fossil fuel, curb pollution and improve the quality of life.
The deal further supports Bahrain’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2026, cut down carbon emissions, handle the greenhouse effect to better adapt to volatile climate change.
Under the deal, Deloitte Touche has been commissioned to develop policies, regulations and infrastructure required for electric vehicles.
The strategy will also contribute to identifying, promoting and facilitating sustainable business models, infrastructures and policies.
“Different types of approved plugs conforming to the Bahraini standard can be used, whether the plugs support direct current or alternating current,” added the ministry in its official response.
“The mechanism described and approved by the Industry and Commerce Ministry is applied to the specifications of chargers to ensure compliance and installing them must be done through specialised companies or electrical contractors approved by the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA).
“The tariff for charging electric cars is subject to the same tariff set for the use of electricity in general and charging electric vehicles costs less than providing the same vehicles with fuel.”
According to the statement, solar energy systems can be used as clean energy sources to supply electric chargers with energy as some government agencies have taken up the initiative to install stations as part of their solar panel installation projects.
Chargers will be installed at strategic locations across Bahrain within efforts to provide the proper infrastructure for electric vehicles at the BIC, Bahrain University, the Bahrain Exhibition Centre and Al Dana Amphitheatre as part of projects to install solar panels for those areas.
Meanwhile, obligating petrol stations to install electric chargers is currently under review.
reem@gdnmedia.bh