Dubai – Mubasher: The UAE’s Road & Traffic Authority (RTA) plans to increase hydrogen-powered taxis in Dubai to 4,750 cabs by 2021 from 791 cabs in 2016.
Dubai is the first country in the Middle East to operate hydrogen-powered taxis.
The fuel cell-powered cabs are compatible with ecofriendly as water is the only emission.
The noiseless new vehicles can travel for 500 kilometers on a full tank and take only five minutes to refill.
Mattar Al Tayer, the director and the general manager of the RTA, launched the trial phase, which took place in Dubai using the Toyota Mirai, in coordination with Al Futtaim Motors.
“[The] RTA will start a trial run of the vehicle as part of its limousine service in the Dubai International Airport to assess the economic feasibility and environmental benefits of its operation besides verifying the efficiency of the engine, maintenance cost and other parameters,” Al Tayer added.
In October, Al Futtaim Motors opened the first hydrogen refilling station in Dubai Festival City. The company is now looking to establish several more hydrogen refilling stations in 2018, Saud Abbasi, managing director of Toyota at Al-Futtaim Motors, said.
