Mohammed Ali Al Khouri (left) and R K Murugan at the event, yesterday. Pic: Baher Amin / The Peninsula
DOHA: To create awareness among the motorists about using green cars for environmental purpose, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, represented by the Public Parks Department (PPD) and Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. Co. W.L.L. (AAB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Under the MoU, AAB has provided the Department with a Toyota hybrid car powered with battery and petrol. The signing ceremony was held yesterday at the headquarters of the Public Parks Department.
The MoU was signed by Mohammed Ali Al Khouri, Director of Public Parks and R K Murugan, Acting CEO of AAB, on the sidelines of a press conference to announce the initiative.
“The two parties are committed to protect environment as one of the main objectives of this initiative,” said Al Khouri.
He said that this hybrid, dual-use, petrol and battery power vehicle is an initiative that supports Qatar’s conservation efforts and a message of awareness about low-emission and low-fuel consuming vehicles.
He pointed out that the MoU is the third in a series of such initiatives in one year duration during which the company will undertake all the maintenance of the car.
He hoped that there would be similar initiatives in this regard, in line with the objectives of the Department to spread the green message in Qatar, pointing out that environmental concerns are growing worldwide.
AAB is offering two models of Toyota hybrid cars and a number of Lexus brand, said Murugan.
He said that with increasing awareness about the benefits of environmentally-friendly cars, demand of hybrid cars is increasing in the local market. “We have also pretty good demand from taxi companies,” he added.
“Toyota will introduce more environmentally-friendly like hydrogen fuelled and electric vehicles,” said Murugan, adding that by next year the availability of green cars will increase significantly.
Speaking about the prices of hybrid cars, Murugan said: “It is affordable because there is not much price differences between hybrid and gasoline cars. If you count the total cost of ownership, for example, for three years the amount of money you spend on fuel and maintenance the hybrid car will be cheaper compared to the regular gasoline car.”
He said that the company is providing eight-year warranty for the battery of the hybrid car and the maintenance cost is like any other normal cars.
