General Motors Africa and Middle East (GM AMEO) recently held an educational webinar, hosted by Harvard Business Review Arabia, a Majarra platform, on the future of mobility.
Bringing together insights from industry opinion leaders and GM’s own battery technology experts, GM said it aims to empower regional audiences with information and encourage transparent conversations toward electrification.
GM explained that through consistent education, it is raising awareness about the importance of innovative technologies to reach collective regional sustainability goals and its own vision of zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion.
This is supported by an understanding of the battery technologies, infrastructure development, legislative changes, and the growing presence of partnerships, aimed at enabling a seamless introduction to the market.
A recent survey conducted by Morning Consult, commissioned by GM AMEO, examined awareness and attitudes towards electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure development, revealing increased interest in EV adoption across the region. The session offered a new perspective for consumers to consider their carbon footprint and how to address it within their mobility needs.
GM outlined how their electric propulsion technology advantage – the Ultium EV Platform, is “spearheading” the electric revolution.
While highlighting the engineering elements of Ultium and how it is empowering GM’s upcoming portfolio of electric and autonomous vehicles, the discussion was set within the wider context of the region’s efforts to combat climate change, with insights from experts in Harvard Business Review Arabia and the University of Sharjah.
Andy Oury – Engineering Technical Leader for High Voltage Battery Packs at General Motors, took attendees through the session and shed light on GM’s Ultium battery technology, transforming the accessibility, performance, convenience, resilience, and flexibility of EVs.
He emphasised how, globally, the Ultium technology is empowering more than only an electric vehicle with its scalability, extending to support robust public charging infrastructure, vehicle connectivity experience similar to a smartphone, and electrifying homes and businesses with energy management products and services.
Meanwhile, Prof. Chaouki Ghenai, Professor of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering in the College of Engineering at the University of Sharjah, shared his thoughts on the role of electric vehicles in the energy transition and net zero emissions by 2050, the importance of developing infrastructure, establishing sustainable supply chains and materials, and utilising cutting-edge technologies to facilitate widespread adoption.
Jack Uppal, President & Managing Director, GM Africa & Middle East, said: “We are eager to educate the public on our vision for the future of mobility, one that reduces individual carbon footprints, offers increased connectivity and personalization of the drive experience and elevated safety. As we look towards an all-electric future, we are aligned with the many regional environmental and sustainability agendas in place, and see it of the utmost importance to work with the visionary governments to accelerate infrastructure on this front. This is supplemented by a series of public-private partnerships to further accelerate the roll out of and access to EVs. Honing in on consumers, the recent webinar celebrates our focus on collaboration and evidences our commitment to bringing Everybody In to our vision for the future of mobility.”
Prof. Chaouki Ghenai, Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering Department, Director of the Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Chair of the Energy and Climate Change, Sustainability Office at the University of Sharjah added: “Electric vehicles (EVs) are a key contributor to both the transition to a more sustainable energy source and the aim of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. This shift is essential in order to fight climate change, cut down on air pollution, and advance the usage of sustainable energy sources. In particular, EVs help achieve these aims in the following ways: reducing greenhouse gases, integration with renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, enhancing energy security, promoting technological advancements, and supporting job creation. Accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and making this transition easier will require policy support in the form of incentives, subsidies, and the development of charging infrastructure. The development of innovative education and research and development (R&D) programs is playing critical parts in the progression of electric cars (EVs) and their widespread acceptance. To maximize the benefits of electric vehicle (EV) technology, government, business, and higher educational institutions must work together to promote innovation collaboration and stimulate economic growth.”
Dia Haykal, Director of Brand and Partnerships at Majarra, commented: “We are thrilled to partner with General Motors. The topic of electric vehicles is of paramount importance in today’s rapidly evolving world, and by raising awareness and fostering transparent conversations, we can collectively contribute to achieving regional net zero goals and combating climate change. Our partnership with GM signifies our shared commitment to empowering the community with knowledge, insights, and reliable content.”
GM outlined that collaboration is central to its all-inclusive approach, following partnerships with the Arab Youth Centre, GITEX HighFlyers, Sharjah Research Technology & Innovation Park, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology to incite an interest in the future of mobility within the next generation.