ABU DHABI, 16th January, 2017 (WAM) -- The Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology, ESMA, will bring out new regulations for electric vehicles in the UAE. The UAE System for Electric Vehicles, the first of its kind regionally, will start its operations after the Cabinets approval.

Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, Minister of State and Chairman of ESMA, announced it at a press conference held on the sidelines of ESMAs participation in the World Future Energy Summit 2017 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, ADNEC.

Bin Fahad said that ESMAs Board of Directors had already approved the new system, which would be the cornerstone of a comprehensive regulatory system overseeing the mechanisms and techniques leveraged in electric vehicles.

The new system would ensure their safety and efficiency, and thus would contribute to achieving sustainable growth that balances environmental, economic and social impacts, he added.

Bin Fahad said that the launch of mandatory application of new standardisations would set up minimum standards of efficient power consumption for electric vehicles.

He also pointed out that mandating important specifications will be within the framework of the authoritys plan to set up technical regulations that protect the environment and natural resources of the country as part of the sustainable environment programmes.

Bin Fahad stressed that the endorsement of the new system by ESMAs Board of Directors is in addition to the continuous development carried out by the body regarding standardisations and technical regulations to rationalise energy and water consumption. This also includes standardisations in line with the UAE Energy Strategy for the next three decades.

The new Energy Strategy was launched last week by Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, aims to increase the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix to 50 percent, which will enable savings of AED700 billion by 2050. The strategy also aims to increase consumption efficiency of individuals and corporates by 40 percent.

The Minister also said that the system was prepared as per latest international practices in this space.

According to Bin Fahad, ESMA will issue certificates of conformity to all electric vehicles that match the requirement of the new system, which will be officially approved in the first quarter of 2017.

The new system will contribute to raising air quality level by up to 90 percent by 2021 to achieve the objectives of the national agenda, in line with the strategic goals of EASM, he said.

The Minister also unveiled the details and mechanisms regarding the application of mandatory standardisations for "Power Efficiency Card," which will show the energy efficiency of electrical appliances with respect to minimum energy efficiency limits for water pumps.

The card was launched by the EASM in sync with its continuous development of local systems and standardisations and the UAE technical regulations issued by the authority.

Bin Fahad further noted that these products would be registered in accordance with the UAE Conformity Assessment Programme, ECCAS.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2017.