RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s electric vehicle ecosystem requires charging stations every 100 km along highways to support its growth, said a senior executive. Speaking to Arab News at the EV Auto Show in Riyadh, Mohamed Al-Mubarak, general manager of Charging Arabia, emphasized that the widespread availability of refueling infrastructure is essential to reducing range anxiety, ultimately benefiting the e-mobility sector. This comes as Saudi Arabia aims to convert 30 percent of Riyadh’s vehicles to electric by 2030, as part of a broader strategy to cut emissions in the capital by 50 percent and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Al-Mubarak said: “It is important to have it (EV charging stations) on highways, so people can travel with their cars. As you know, the electric car ranges between 300 to 400 km, now up to 500 km. At least every 100 km, there should be a charging station.” Charging Arabia, which operates in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Saudi Arabia, focuses on EV charging station operations, AC and DC charger installations, and mobile charging services. He said the company is concentrating on the Saudi market because “the government is helping people in the EV charging business.” Al-Mubarak added: “Although there are only 1,000 cars in the market, it is not a big number. But it’s on the right track, and I think it’s going with the vision. By 2030, I think there will be thousands of electric cars in Saudi.” He revealed that the company has partnered with Saudi-based charging manufacturer Alfanar to enhance the Kingdom’s EV infrastructure. “As a charging station operator, we need to have chargers everywhere — public places, petrol stations, shopping malls, and public parking — so people can charge their cars,” said Al-Mubarak. Currently, Charging Arabia operates two stations in Riyadh and plans to expand with over 100 facilities in the Eastern Province. Al-Mubarak also identified electricity load management as a challenge as the number of EVs grows. Al-Mubarak suggested that the government could implement a scheme to help individuals purchase home AC chargers, allowing them to charge their cars overnight and wake up with a fully charged vehicle.