EVERA: Laying the groundwork to welcome e-mobility
Before we can have electric cars become a more viable option on the roads of the UAE, we need to lay the groundwork for electric vehicles (EVs) to be made to thrive in the market. Charging stations and battery power are just two of these issues that need to be addressed. However, as EVERA points out, there are more.
While the technology for electric vehicles exists, supporting environment in which they can be seamlessly used still needs improvement, especially with the UAE weather. EVERA is tackling all these issues in a more cohesive way through consultations, awareness events as well as engineering solutions.
Salman Hussain, Managing Partner of EVERA gives us further insights into the market gaps and how they're tackling issues to make sustainable mobility a real possibility.
Please tell us about EVERA.
EVERA stands for Electric Vehicles for Environmental Regenerative Action. We are a community-focused startup with the goal of advancing the cause of Electric Vehicles in the UAE and GCC region.
It was established in 2017 by our founder, Kyle Weber. I, Salman Hussain, joined early 2019 as a Managing Partner and we currently have a strong team of 10 people working with us.
How did you come to establish EVERA? Would you like to share your insights regarding the market gap?
We noticed that most efforts in the region with regards to e-mobility are independent of each and need more collaboration. Because it is a frayed approach to problem-solving, it can end up with a lot of duplicated effort and one where a good solution might be overlooked for one that is not optimal for our needs here in the UAE.
We are trying to make it cohesive to advance the push in a way that is feasible to the end-user.
Very interesting! Could you elaborate on the issues and how you are addressing them?
I would say the initial one is that of closing market gaps and the second is to raise awareness in the public sphere about the viability of EVs in the region. In keeping with these goals, we have three major aspects to our business: Consulting, Engineering and Community Awareness.
We advise public and private entities on the best solutions based on our data on e-mobility in the region. We also have several engineering solutions we work on to address specific gaps in the market, for example, in the space of smart charging infrastructure. Finally, and most importantly, we engage with the community by hosting several events to raise awareness of the need to move to sustainable practices.
Have you faced any challenges?
Changing mindsets is definitely always the most difficult thing. Our motto is to let potential users experience the benefits firsthand.
Amazing! Have you been funded to bring forth these solutions?
We are currently incubated by All The Way Green and are self-funded. We are now getting projects which make our business feasible.
Wow! That's amazing. So, tell us about your vision, and how you plan to achieve it in the coming years.
We are working on EV infrastructure, particularly in relation to Charging Stations for EVs and have a comprehensive dataset for the Middle East, along with cost-effective charging solutions to deploy infrastructure within the private sector.
Moreover, we are liaising with several OEM's and service providers to promote collaboration and push for standardisation, which will aim to achieve a governing standard.
We are also introducing lower price points in the EV market to make it more attractive to end-users.
There are several engineering projects we are working on including beta testing a Fast-Charging Motorbike, a Solar Charging project and Hydrogen Bikes.
Very interesting! We wish you all the very best for that! Last question: What impact do you plan to make in the market?
We aim to establish a unified front for advancing EVs in the region, inclusive of all stakeholders and make it attractive to all incoming individuals and fleets; and support the market to step away from combustion engine vehicles.
