RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is set to activate high-speed public charging infrastructure to support the adoption of electric vehicles, thanks to a new agreement. The memorandum of understanding between the electric car specialists Lucid and Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Co., also known as EVIQ, aims to foster cooperation and the exchange of expertise in developing and enhancing the Kingdom’s EV sector. This contributes to the growing adoption of EVs in Saudi Arabia and bolstering the Kingdom’s position as a leading hub for innovation and development in the industry’s technology. Under the MoU, Lucid and EVIQ will collaborate to develop a high-speed public charging offering for Lucid customers, utilizing EVIQ’s stations to provide fast-charging capabilities. “By combining Lucid’s expertise in electric vehicle design, manufacturing, and sustainable mobility with EVIQ’s extensive experience in developing and operating public charging networks, including fast-charging stations, the collaboration will serve to drive innovation and accelerate EV ownership in Saudi Arabia,” Faisal Sultan, vice president and managing director Middle East at Lucid, said. He added: “The collaboration between Lucid and EVIQ represents a significant step forward in addressing one of the key challenges hindering the mass adoption of electric vehicles — access to convenient and reliable charging infrastructure.” Lucid is dedicated to enhancing the ownership journey and simplifying the process of acquiring and maintaining the finest electric vehicle in the world. “Our mission is to provide the best-in-class EV chargers and technologies to empower drivers in Saudi to buy and use EVs with confidence,” EVIQ CEO Mohammad Bakr Gazzaz said. He added: “Through this partnership with Lucid, we have taken another big step toward our goal of establishing a national network of fast charging locations by 2030 to enable and encourage the use of EVs across Saudi Arabia, in line with the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030.”