Israel to have 100K Electric Vehicles in 2 Years?!
Project Better Place is an initiative "to make scalable electric transportation a reality on a global scale and reduce the world's dependency on oil." That is a strategic concept that is truly meriting applause. Shai Agassi, former executive at SAP AG, Europe's largest software company, is the sparking energy behind PBP, who "has an audacious idea—some may call it foolhardy—to change they way electric cars are sold and maintained."
digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/environment/Israel_to_have_100K_Electric_Vehicles_in_2_Years'; The basic concept: his company will own the batteries and rent them out to car owners. Driving on the road and need a recharge? Stop in at a charging center, take a few moments to exchange batteries (and take a pee), and get back on the road again.
Shai has some $200 million in investments that say that he can make this vision a reality.
The latest news: Project Better Place is targeting 100,000 electric vehicles in Israel, within the next two years. The likely builder: Renault. A key benefit in the marketplace: Israel to make electric car production tax fee. (As to that last, considering that Israel charges an 84 percent purchase tax on gas cars and 30 percent on hybrids, that no-tax situation provides a real advantage.)
Hat tip to AutoBlogGreen.