UAE DEWA uses blockchain for electric vehicles

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced in August 2020, that it is enabling its customers who own electric vehicles to obtain all transactions including EV Green Charger registration, charging, and billing & settlement on a trusted blockchain eco-system. According to the release on their website, this enables faster, safer, and more efficient transaction management, as well as saving time and effort.

“This step supports our efforts to achieve the Emirates Blockchain Strategy 2021 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to enhance the efficiency of government performance by transforming 50% of federal government transactions to blockchain by 2021. It is also in alignment with the Dubai Blockchain Strategy, launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation, to transform Dubai’s government into the world's first government to conduct all its applicable transactions to blockchain by 2020. This also supports the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021 to reduce carbon emissions from the transportation sector. DEWA collaborates with other organisations to establish a unified national EV charging blockchain network that connects all public and private partners such as Smart Dubai, Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, other utilities, EV retailers and private EV chargers across the UAE; to enable access to information via a unified highly-secure network,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

“DEWA adopts the latest Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and disruptive technologies to provide green and innovative solutions that build a sustainable future. This consolidates Dubai’s position as a capital for the green economy and sustainable development. The blockchain system for EV owners provides a single platform with high availability. It provides an integrated agile governance framework that supports transparency among all stakeholders,” added Al Tayer.

Through the EV Green Charger initiative, DEWA strives to encourage the use of environmentally friendly electric vehicles to protect the environment. DEWA provides more than 240 EV stations across different locations in Dubai. It also provides free charging for non-commercial EV owners until 31 December 2021. This is exclusive to DEWA’s public charging stations and does not apply to home chargers. Commercially registered users such as government, semi-government, and private organisations are being charged a tariff of 29 fils per kilowatt hour.