Oil-rich Dubai adds a fleet of Uber Tesla electric carsOil-rich Dubai adds a fleet of Uber Tesla electric cars

Dubai, the second largest sheikdom in the United Arab Emirates, rose to riches thanks to abundant oil.
With some of the lowest fuel prices in the world, SUVs and inefficient vehicles roam the flashy Emirati city en masse. However, ride-sharing service Uber is now bucking tradition by letting users select a zero-emission option with a fleet of Tesla vehicles.
Uber launched a new UberONE option through its smartphone app, which allows users to choose a Tesla Model S or Model X electric car specifically for his or her ride with a slightly higher fare.
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The UberONE service comes via a partnership with Dubai Taxi Corporation, which announced it would add 200 Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles this year.
The AP reports that 50 Tesla electric cars are now operable in the UberONE service, and another 150 Model S and Model Xs will join the fleet over the next two years.
Uber’s General Manager in the United Arab Emirates, Chris Free, said the partnership with Dubai Taxi Corporation allows riders to experience “new and progressive experiences.”
2017 Tesla Model S
Although the fleet of Tesla electric cars provides zero emissions, the Dubai Taxi Corporation was drawn to purchase the electric cars due to their semi self-driving capabilities.
The Dubai Future Foundation wants fully self-driving cars to carry out 25 percent of trips within the city by 2030.
Even though Tesla’s Autopilot system does not house complete self-driving capability, CEO Elon Musk promised “Hardware 2” will enable fully-autonomous driving once it develops accompanying software and validates it.
READ THIS: Electric-car incentives added in, remarkably, oil-rich Dubai
Dubai is likely prepping itself for Tesla’s potential in accordance with the Future Foundation’s goals.
The sheikdom is also doing its part in small doses to curb emissions.
This month, Dubai announced electric-car ownership incentives as part of its goal to deploy 32,000 electric cars on local roads by 2020.
2017 Tesla Model S
The perks include free parking, charging, and other incentives; Dubai will cull the free charging incentive in 2019, however.
As countries like the UAE begin to deal with the reality that is electric cars and renewable energy production, a shift in economic planning is underway.
CHECK OUT: Even Saudi Arabia vows to end its ‘addiction to oil’
Many of these countries fear for their economies as the world starts to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.
Instead, countries such as Saudi Arabia plan for tourism and defense to bolster its economy by 2030; in turn, oil production would not be the largest source of income.
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