Kuwait is expected to start importing electric powered cars starting from the beginning of next year after completing the regulations and controls prepared by the relevant committee, which includes the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research and the ministries of Electricity and Water and Interior, and the General Authority for Industry and Customs and other relevant authorities.
The researcher participating in the renewable energy program at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Dr. Hadhab Al-Hamwi, said in a special statement to "Al-Anbaa", that it is expected that auto companies will import 30 electric cars next year, noting that the institute in cooperation with the Industry Authority and the Ministry of Electricity and Customs is developing The regulations and controls for importing these cars.
She pointed out that in preparation for this serious step, the renewable energy program, under the auspices of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences, is implementing a pilot project entitled "Evaluating the performance of the electric car under extreme weather conditions and setting a framework for the readiness of Kuwait City for the electric car", which aims to study electric vehicles and test Battery performance and its air conditioning system under the climatic conditions of Kuwait.
She explained that the institute imported an electric car 7 months ago and experiments are being performed on it whether the charging period or the service of the car and others, pointing out that the AC charging station has been completed, i.e. the non-fixed frequency and experiments have been conducted on it with a capacity of 7 amps and can charge the car for 7 to 8 hours.
And announced the completion of the installation of the first electrical charging station in the institute last week with a fixed frequency DC system and is now in the process of extending connections to start practical tests on it to know its capacity and capacity to charge and the duration of the continuation of the charging, which is expected not to exceed one and a half hours.
Al-Hamwi indicated that the project aims to define the elements and procedures necessary to convert Kuwait City into a ready environment for the conduct of electric cars, noting that the study includes recommendations related to controls and related procedures, as well as optimal locations for charging stations points, and a government framework that would encourage the use of Electric cars within the city and its geographical surroundings.
She pointed out that the study also includes information about activating an awareness program about the advantages of using electric cars, in addition to preparing standard lists that include readiness elements, to support the use of electric cars, with the aim of being guided by various parties seeking to activate their use.
Al-Hamwi said that the use of electric cars is increasing rapidly in the industrialized countries, driven by the remarkable progress achieved in the field of battery technology, in addition to the availability of forms of government support represented in the incentives provided to individuals and institutions.