Over the years, Dubai has built a vast infrastructure of its taxis that ply on the road 24X7 covering every nook and corner of the fast-paced city. Having a slew of options from standard to premium category, every move which the Dubai Taxi Corporation takes, is made after paying vigorous heed on the country’s vision of sustainable development and hence, a range of 172 Tesla vehicles comprising 80 Tesla Model S, 50 Model X and 42 Model 3 were made to fulfil their obligation as taxis as part of a pilot limousine program in 2017.
Following the victorious completion of that program, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has taken a call to add multiple Tesla Model 3 cars as a pilot project to test the feasibility before shifting to its use on the streets permanently.
RTA commented on the occasion, “The usage of Tesla electric vehicles in Dubai taxi fleet is an exceptional experience, which contributes in realising His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, Green Economy for Sustainable Development Initiative. It also supports Dubai Government’s energy and low carbon strategy aimed to make Dubai a model to be emulated in the efficient use of energy and reduced carbon emission,” said Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors.
RTA also said that the positive feedback from these vehicles enlivens the scope for using electric mobility in future as Dubai taxis as it affirms commitment towards lowering carbon emissions and hence, prevent its adverse effects for a clean environment. Such measures are major leaps towards transitioning 90% of the taxi lineup of the Dubai Taxi Corporation into hybrid (petrol+battery) and fully electric cars.
Having proven their reliability, these new Tesla Model 3 cars have been profoundly welcomed by the associates of the Dubai Taxi Corporation to run these cars all hours of the day for all seven days in a week without any pause in between. Currently, Tesla cars are already catering to all day and night service entailing all occasions and areas of high density and Dubai airports. Tesla models are also used as premium taxis in the city currently and provide the availability of semi-autonomous driving currently.
“The success of that experiment prompts us to widen the scope of using electric vehicles as part of the Dubai Taxi fleet over the upcoming years... The initiative is the first of its kind worldwide in adopting a semi-total transformation of limousines into environmentally-friendly vehicles,” commented Al Tayer.
The Model 3 is one of the brand’s most luxurious, refined and spacious sedans with robust performance and high level of technology. It comes loaded with features such as active understeer control, adaptive suspension, collision detection, crosswind assist, adaptive headlights, speed sensitive power steering, footwell lights and acoustic roof.
It comes powered by a double 82 kWh battery, one paired with each axle, which together generate 513 hp and 660 Nm of torque for the performance version. Capable to attain a top speed of 261 Km/h, it does the 0-100 Km/h sprint in an earth-shaking 3.3 seconds. On a single charge, it can run steadily till 547 km.
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