Regulations point to EV expansion in Israel, UAE

Stand up scooter

Recent proposals for regulations on electric vehicles (EV) in Israel and the UAE point to healthy expansion of the automotive segment in both countries.

While the Israeli police have called for stricter regulations controlling the use of electric bikes, including licences and fixing legal age of driving at 16, the UAE government is looking to frame standards for electric vehicles plying on its roads to ensure safety and sustainability.

In Israel, a series of accidents involving electric bicycles resulted in the call for regulations. The police have stated that it has based its recommendations on the findings of officers of the force and researchers who studied the issue.

According to an estimate, Israel has more than 120,000 stand-up scooters imported to the country during the past two years. And most accidents involving the vehicles happened when teenagers were riding them.

The Jerusalem Post quoting Maya Siman-Tov of the Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, reported that 64 people were hospitalized following accidents involving electric scooters since beginning of this year. Of the cases 10 percent of victims were severely wounded and 8 percent were hospitalized for a week or more. In sum, the figures represented 237 percent increase year on year for the same period.

Among the proposals made to reduce mishaps caused by electric vehicles, particularly to pedestrians, is one seeking local ordinance to ban use of motorized vehicles in city parks, sidewalks and other areas.

Meanwhile, in the UAE, Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority (Esma) is working to set UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council standards for electric vehicles.

The standards are expected to be set by end of this year and will come into force in the next, according to a report published by Gulf News.

The standards are expected to specify the minimum requirements for EV components, including the material used in batteries, adaptability to local weather and safety levels.

Electric vehicles are being promoted aggressively in the UAE as part of the country’s eco-friendly initiatives and efforts to reduce carbon footprint.

Dubai spearheaded the drive to promote EVs with the launch of charging stations and mechanisms to inspect and register such vehicles. The emirate has about 200 EVs registered, of which 50 are light passenger vehicles. Electric powered construction and commercial vehicles and buses are also in use.

However, the UAE had till date not framed laws governing the sale and use of the battery-powered vehicles.

Ajith Kumar S

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