Adnoc unit to expand superfast EV charging stations

Adnoc Distribution plans to increase the amount of superfast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along the UAE’s highways by 2027.

As part of its 2027 roadmap, the subsidiary of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) plans to open 20 EV charging stations.

Fifteen are expected to open by the end of 2026, providing services across all core UAE national highways, it said in a statement to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).

As part of the plan, Adnoc Distribution announced the opening of an ‘EV mega hub’ on the E11 highway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The facility’s 60 charging points will charge most EVs from 0 to 80 percent in nearly 20 minutes.

Sharif Al Olama, undersecretary for energy and petroleum affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said expanding the high-speed charging network is central to the government’s strategy to cut energy consumption in transport and have EVs represent 50 percent of all cars on UAE roads by 2050.

Adnoc Distribution currently has more than 400 charging stations and aims to reach up to 750 by 2028, the statement said.

Further reading:

• Adnoc Distribution profit rises on higher fuel sales
• Charging demand grows as Dubai warms to EVs
• Adnoc Distribution targets Saudi expansion as profit soars

Adnoc owns 77 percent of the fuel distribution company, which was listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange in December 2017. The shares closed at AED3.87 on Monday, up nearly 14 percent in the past year.

In August, Dubai-listed parking space operator Parkin signed a long-term agreement with Charge&Go, a subsidiary of Etisalat Services Holding, to launch 200 “ultra-fast” direct current charging stations.

Anish Racherla, CEO of Regeny, a specialised provider of EV charging infrastructure, told AGBI in February that the UAE has about 2,000 public charging stations, which need to triple to 6,000 by the end of the year to meet demand.