24-year-old Zach Faizal unveils UAE’s first home-grown petrol-to-electric repurposed vehicle
Zach promises to deliver repurposed car at almost half cost of new EV
Abu Dhabi: In a major breakthrough on the sidelines of COP28, Dubai-based start-up Peec Mobility is set to debut the UAE's first home-grown petrol-to-electric repurposed vehicle. Founded by 24-year-old entrepreneur Zach Faizal in 2022, Peec Mobility's innovative technology promises to play a pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions on UAE roads and aligning with the nation's Net-Zero goals.
The technology developed by Peec Mobility is a cost-effective alternative to mass scrapping of existing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle fleets. By repurposing retired petrol vehicles while retaining their body and chassis, the start-up aims to transform them into electric vehicles with a 30% lower cost and an 80% reduction in manufacturing time compared to producing new electric vehicles.
Zach Faizal, the visionary behind Peec Mobility, envisions this technology as a game-changer for the Middle East region. He emphasizes that re-engineering offers a quicker, smoother, and greener transition to electric mobility than purchasing new electric vehicles. Faizal's promise is to deliver repurposed cars at nearly half the cost of new electric vehicles, making them more accessible to a wider audience.
“Today, re-engineering is quicker, smoother and greener than buying new EVs, and proves cost-efficient,” said Zach Faizal, who promises to deliver a repurposed car at almost half the cost of a new EV. “For instance, an average electric car on the market is priced at around $52,000. Peec’s vehicles are aimed to be priced at 30 per cent to 50 per cent lower with the volumes we’re looking at. Thus solving the affordability challenge in the sector,” Zach Faizal was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times.
Peec Mobility's focus extends beyond individual cars, with an ambitious plan to repurpose entire fleets of ICE buses, cars, and trucks on UAE roads. Zach Faizal believes in the efficacy of reusing existing vehicles, emphasizing that "waste is minimized, and a new life cycle begins."
The start-up's first line-up of reinvented mid-sized sedans and buses, featuring a smart paint job, Flyknit-style upholstery, and retrofitted home-designed electric engines, will be unveiled at the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference.
Zach Faizal aims to collaborate with the government to implement this conversion at scale and create a replicable model from the UAE to the world. Zach Faizal aspires to support the UAE Net Zero goal by reducing 23% of emissions from the transportation sector by 2030. He proposes implementing a policy to repurpose just 5.0% of existing vehicles on the road every year for the next seven years.
Peec Mobility's plan is not limited to the UAE; Zach Faizal envisions taking the conversion model to other countries, redefining the used-car market globally. Recognizing that setting up local ReFactories is a key strategy to reduce capital expenditure in the short term, Zach Faizal believes it is crucial to invest less in the capex of vehicles until 2030. The goal is to prioritize building a robust charging infrastructure globally, paving the way for heavy manufacturing plants and gigafactories in the future.
“Conversion is the most pragmatic route to Net-Zero. One we can succeed with our business strategy here, we will take it to other countries to redefine the used-car market,” said Zach Faizal.
As of now, Peec Mobility is on track to unveil at least 500 repurposed EVs operating on Dubai roads by 2024.
“The number one limiting factor to electric vehicle adoption is the lack of charging infrastructure, not the vehicles themselves. Our strategy and goal is to work with governments and bring awareness of the idea, until 2030, of investing less in the capex of the vehicles (repurpose them) and invest the bigger amount in charging infrastructure. And once by 2030, we have a robust charging infra globally, we can move into heavy manufacturing plants and gigafactories.” He further added.
Zach Faizal is the son of Faizal Kottikollon and Shabana Faizal, a well-known Indian entrepreneur couple based in the UAE. The couple is not only known for their business endeavors but also for their philanthropic contributions.
Shabana hails from Mangaluru in the Karnataka state of India. She is the only daughter of prominent businessman and socio-religious leader Late B Ahmed Haji Mohiudeen who founded the prestigious BA Group of Businesses in Thumbay near Mangaluru.
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Delimitation shouldn't diminish representation of any state in LS, RS, says Jagan to PM
Amaravati(PTI): Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to carry out the delimitation exercise in such a manner that no state would suffer any reduction in representation in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, especially in terms of the share of total number of seats in the House.
In a letter to the Prime Minister dated March 21, a copy of which was shared with the media on Saturday, the YSRCP chief highlighted that the gravity of the delimitation issue has the potential to disrupt the social and political harmony of the country.
"Request for the delimitation exercise to be conducted in such a manner that no state would have to endure any reduction in its representation in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, in terms of its share in total no. (number) of seats in the house," said Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The opposition leader emphasised that the Constitution should be amended in such a fashion that no state would have to encounter any reduction in its representation in the House of the People.
Calling delimitation exercise a matter of utmost importance for the entire nation with the potential to have far-reaching impact, he said it not only affects the political representation of some states in policy and law-making but also affects the deep sentiments of vast sections of India's population.
"Sir, in light of this, I strongly emphasize the need for extreme caution while initiating the delimitation exercise," said Jagan Mohan Reddy, adding that the imbalance in population control between different states is a major issue.
His letter comes at a time when several parties are convening in Chennai at the invitation of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin to brainstorm on the delimitation exercise.
The 84th Constitutional amendment had extended the existing embargo for the delimitation process, which would rearrange the number of seats in the Parliament for states, till 2026.
YSRCP Parliamentary leader YV Subba Reddy forwarded Jagan Mohan Reddy's letter to the PM, to DMK party leaders, emphasising the need for a fair and balanced approach in the delimitation process.
However, YSRCP did not mark its attendance at the all-party meeting on delimitation organised by DMK, though two DMK leaders, Tamil Nadu Public Works Minister EV Velu and DMK Rajya Sabha member P Wilson, had personally called on Jagan Mohan Reddy and invited him recently.
Further, Jagan Mohan Reddy underscored that an assumption that the delimitation exercise would follow a likely census in 2026 has caused 'severe anxiety for several states', especially southern states, which fear that their representation would be diminished.
Though the 42nd and 84th Constitutional amendments had frozen the delimitation exercise with the hope that states would demonstrate a similar level of success with respect to family planning, the YSRCP chief observed that the 2011 census had proved it wrong.
"The share of the southern states in the country's population has reduced over the 40-year period between 1971 and 2011. We believe that the share has reduced even further over the last 15-year period," he said, noting that the southern states sincerely followed population control programmes.
Consequently, Jagan Mohan Reddy drew the attention of Modi to the potential erosion of southern states' participation in national policy-making and legislative process if the delimitation process is conducted on the basis of population as it stands today.
Hence, the YSRCP supremo noted that Modi's leadership and guidance at this crucial juncture is most vital and an assurance from the PM would contribute greatly to allaying the fears of several states.
