Project Better Place, the brainchild of entrepreneur and CEO Shai Agassi, in partnership with French automaker Renault, is an increasingly popular electric car service model that looks to the “service station” concept for electric cars. By developing an infrastructure of “swap stations,” drivers can swap discharged batteries in their electric cars in little more than five minutes, and be on their way. Pilot projects are already underway across the globe, including Denmark, Israel, Japan, Hawaii, California, and Australia.
Renault and Better Place announced this week plans sell up to 160,000 electric cars annually throughout Denmark and Israel starting in 2011.
Renault will produce three models of all-electric vehicles: a sedan, a compact, and a van. In Denmark the EV’s will cost up to $38,000 (200,000 Kroner), and drivers then sign up for a monthly service contract, modeled after cellular phone service agreements, for access to the batteries and swap service. “It will be like signing up for a mobile phone contract,” said Jens Moberg, CEO of Better Place Denmark, the Danish subsidiary of the transportation firm. The cost of the service plan has not yet been disclosed (nor the cost of the EVs in Israel). Under the service plan, batteries can then either be charged at home, taking a few hours, or swapped at swap stations in a few minutes.
About 100 swap stations are initially planned for Denmark, with many scattered around Copenhagen, the Danish capital. 50 or 60 stations should be available by the time the United Nations meets in Copenhagen for the upcoming COP15 Climate Conference in December. As the program expands, should too will the number of swap station, with nearly 1000 expected to be deployed in Denmark in coming years.
Moberg said the lithium-ion batteries will cost $11,760 to manufacture in 2011, as compared to the $30,000 it costs for the battery in a Tesla Roadster. As production increases, the cost of battery manufacture should fall, said Moberg.
Image credit: BetterPlace.com
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About Tom Schueneman
Electric car production has really taken off. I wonder when it will start to compete with petrol car production.
Electric car production has really taken off. I wonder when it will start to compete with petrol car production.
How far can you travel on one battery at highway speeds? I would really want to buy one of these if they could make one that does a decent amount of distance at a good rate of speed. I have always been fascinated by electric cars and hope that one day we can depend on them.
How far can you travel on one battery at highway speeds? I would really want to buy one of these if they could make one that does a decent amount of distance at a good rate of speed. I have always been fascinated by electric cars and hope that one day we can depend on them.
“Plans Massive Rollout in 2011″
Plan their bankruptcy the moment government subsidies run out. That’s all this is. No real business justification. Batteries are 10+ (???, maybe never) years away from the kind of dependability and range most consumers expect from a car. Do the research if you doubt my word.
“Plans Massive Rollout in 2011″
Plan their bankruptcy the moment government subsidies run out. That’s all this is. No real business justification. Batteries are 10+ (???, maybe never) years away from the kind of dependability and range most consumers expect from a car. Do the research if you doubt my word.
Blogmeire,
Your simply wrong on so many fronts. The battery exist today, Tesla is using it.
Blogmeire,
Your simply wrong on so many fronts. The battery exist today, Tesla is using it.
Blogmeire – Any technical hurdles with battery technology aside, It’s not clear to me that you understand how Better Place works.
Blogmeire – Any technical hurdles with battery technology aside, It’s not clear to me that you understand how Better Place works.
Is it clear to anyone how Better Place works? All I’ve read are stories like these that state “The cost of the service plan has not yet been disclosed.” These guys are in it for profit, not to save the world. Most likely they will start at a subsidized rate and ramp up from there when they feel they need to start making money.
Reality Check…
Just add up how much your cell phone plan will cost at the current level for the next 5 years and magnify that by a factor of 10, and then tell me you’d rather lease than buy. Even at a conservative factor of 5 you’ll be paying the purchase price of the original battery pack every 5 years.
It’s not that I don’t think this is a good idea. I just don’t know how many people are going to want to make $650+/mo payments on a $38,000 vehicle, plus $350+/mo lease to be able to drive it.
Is it clear to anyone how Better Place works? All I’ve read are stories like these that state “The cost of the service plan has not yet been disclosed.” These guys are in it for profit, not to save the world. Most likely they will start at a subsidized rate and ramp up from there when they feel they need to start making money.
Reality Check…
Just add up how much your cell phone plan will cost at the current level for the next 5 years and magnify that by a factor of 10, and then tell me you’d rather lease than buy. Even at a conservative factor of 5 you’ll be paying the purchase price of the original battery pack every 5 years.
It’s not that I don’t think this is a good idea. I just don’t know how many people are going to want to make $650+/mo payments on a $38,000 vehicle, plus $350+/mo lease to be able to drive it.
The notion of swap stations allows to get around the battery recharge time (normally 4 or 5 hours). That should help with widespread acceptance.
The notion of swap stations allows to get around the battery recharge time (normally 4 or 5 hours). That should help with widespread acceptance.
Fast charging stations will allow quick charging without the added complexity and expense of swappable packs, swapping machines, and stockpiling extra packs. Longer range battery packs will also lessen the need for a fast charge or swap. It’s a bad idea and a poor model.
Fast charging stations will allow quick charging without the added complexity and expense of swappable packs, swapping machines, and stockpiling extra packs. Longer range battery packs will also lessen the need for a fast charge or swap. It’s a bad idea and a poor model.
Well, any production of electric cars is welcome.
I wish them success in Israel and Denmark.
Personally, I don’t like the idea of paying a monthly fee to use a battery-swapping service.They compare it to a cell phone plan. I hate my cell phone plan and it’s very very expensive. Battery swapping sounds very expensive and I don’t want to be a paying slave to some car company.
Once I buy my car, I don’t want to pay any more fees to the manufacturer. I’m looking forward to buying an Aptera. That vehicle is going to rock! It’s a True plug-in vehicle that gets over 100 miles per charge. I can live with that because I usually drive only 30 miles a day. No need to swap out batteries and pay some ‘cellular type” payment plan. True transportation freedom is coming soon! Aptera is the way to go!
Well, any production of electric cars is welcome.
I wish them success in Israel and Denmark.
Personally, I don’t like the idea of paying a monthly fee to use a battery-swapping service.They compare it to a cell phone plan. I hate my cell phone plan and it’s very very expensive. Battery swapping sounds very expensive and I don’t want to be a paying slave to some car company.
Once I buy my car, I don’t want to pay any more fees to the manufacturer. I’m looking forward to buying an Aptera. That vehicle is going to rock! It’s a True plug-in vehicle that gets over 100 miles per charge. I can live with that because I usually drive only 30 miles a day. No need to swap out batteries and pay some ‘cellular type” payment plan. True transportation freedom is coming soon! Aptera is the way to go!
Theme : Nissan Leaf will lift the world, No Need For Heartbreaking Wars !
Some say the Leaf and the i-MiEV have a cruising range of 160 km on one battery charge, that is about one-third of the distance a gas-powered car can cover on a full tank of fuel.
In 21st century, home, workplace, or stores etc also serve as a power station as electricity is everywhere. and the other developers that come in a range of 200 to 300 miles between charges are on fast-tract toward mass-market, as well.
In this economy, fuel price is hovering around $60 to $75 a barrel, which highlights the actual value might be much the same as the peak price last year, and it will continue to spiral up unquestionably.
All it takes for the entire world to live in peace would be to change our antique notion as technology is already here, energy independence lies with people’s will and attitude. Today, the size and scope of investing in future energy will determine the future and fate of a nation.
1. The range of terrific EVs are sufficient to meet the daily driving needs of 95% of drivers ((The vast majority of people (95%) drive less than 160/km a day)).
2. What’s more, as for long trip needs, all but Americans and many of developed nations have existing automobiles, in this regard, EVs are best suited to their daily use until the infrastructure comes into wide use. And people are already doing that. It’s time to end carrying a heavy suitcase for a long trip on a daily basis as it is unsustainable.
3. The price has not yet been announced, but Nissan says it will be priced similarly to a well-equipped sedan in the vicinity of the high $20,000 and with government tax break.
4. Manufacturing volume, innovative battery technology will drive down cost.
5. Very little maintenance fee.
Easy to drive and low likelihood of accidents, their only controls are the accelerator and brake.
6. MILES PER GALLON : MORE THAN 10 VS 1 (Leaf : 367MPG) compared with general combustion engine cars.
Applied to a different methodology from DOE formula, the notable EVs suffice to reach 200 to 300 MPG .
As an innovative Chevy Volt shows, even excellent hybrid cars and modern diesels are not comparable to EVs in light of fuel economy as the current fuel price went beyond the level of these autos and they failed to overcome this great recession, I guess.
7. EVs will likely be less expensive for people to drive with low-cost nighttime charging.
Sometimes EVs can be charged at workplaces or stores etc.
8. Batteries will become more efficient on the whole and their price will drop, whereas the oil will simply go up and up as it becomes more scarce. As simple as that.
9. EVs are simple and felt smoother and more torquey than the petrol models, and quiet, fun to drive.
10. Better Place is partnering with Nissan to create the charging infrastructure and a system for swapping depleted batteries for fully charged batteries in less than 2 minutes. This can extend the range of the vehicle to hundreds of miles.
11. Nissan has developed an IT system for its EVs, connecting the vehicle’s on-board transmitting unit to a global data centre to support EV driving 24 hours 7 days a week.
The system shows the driving radius on a maximum range display under the current state of charge and calculates if the vehicle is within range of a pre-set destination. The navigation system points out the latest information on available charging stations within the current driving range
12. The car will charge to 80 percent within 30 minutes on a quick charger. A full charge requires eight hours on a 200V outlet.
13. It features a timer function that will start the car’s air-conditioner or battery charging at a specified time to benefit from more favorable electricity rates by a mobile phone or the Internet, as well. An SMS can be sent when the battery is fully charged and the car ready.
14. The 24 kilowatt hours laminated compact lithium-ion battery pack is placed under the vehicle floor for more efficient packaging. The battery layout also allows smooth underfloor air-flow which helps reduce drag.
15. The regenerative brake system employed to recharge the battery during deceleration and braking extends the driving range to more than 160 kilometres (depending on driving style and conditions) under a full charge.
16. Durability is achieved by employing an additional frame for the battery pack to significantly improve the rigidity of the platform.
17. The electric motor will develop 80 kilowatts, which is the equivalent of about 107 horsepower.
It has a maximum speed of 90 miles per hour.
18. It takes a practical approach towards the family market with its tagline: “5 passengers, 5 doors” .
19. The design is streamlined and stylish.
20. In place of selling battery, leasing it represents not merely holding the price down but taking charge of its quality issue, from my position.
21. even when electricity is produced by coal, an electric vehicle will indirectly release less carbon than a liquid fueled vehicle. One source suggests 60% less: http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/24/study-even-with-electricity-from-coal-electric-vehilces-beat-g/
Once the U.S. switches the ‘unsustainable’ war and military wasting like health care wasting into investing in a smart grid, charging station infrastructure, the entire world will live in peace as U.S. spend more on military than the next 25 countries combined.
An extended mistake, oil wars, might barely sustain national automakers, not international, for some time at best, especially considering the invaluable lives and unsustainable military costs.
I’m convinced just like digital cameras, EVs are going mainstream sooner rather than later. Most recently, an analyst from Credit Suisse said: ” we believe the electrification of the car appears increasingly inevitable, with plug-in hybrids providing the bridge technology to full electric vehicles.”
Theme : Nissan Leaf will lift the world, No Need For Heartbreaking Wars !
Some say the Leaf and the i-MiEV have a cruising range of 160 km on one battery charge, that is about one-third of the distance a gas-powered car can cover on a full tank of fuel.
In 21st century, home, workplace, or stores etc also serve as a power station as electricity is everywhere. and the other developers that come in a range of 200 to 300 miles between charges are on fast-tract toward mass-market, as well.
In this economy, fuel price is hovering around $60 to $75 a barrel, which highlights the actual value might be much the same as the peak price last year, and it will continue to spiral up unquestionably.
All it takes for the entire world to live in peace would be to change our antique notion as technology is already here, energy independence lies with people’s will and attitude. Today, the size and scope of investing in future energy will determine the future and fate of a nation.
1. The range of terrific EVs are sufficient to meet the daily driving needs of 95% of drivers ((The vast majority of people (95%) drive less than 160/km a day)).
2. What’s more, as for long trip needs, all but Americans and many of developed nations have existing automobiles, in this regard, EVs are best suited to their daily use until the infrastructure comes into wide use. And people are already doing that. It’s time to end carrying a heavy suitcase for a long trip on a daily basis as it is unsustainable.
3. The price has not yet been announced, but Nissan says it will be priced similarly to a well-equipped sedan in the vicinity of the high $20,000 and with government tax break.
4. Manufacturing volume, innovative battery technology will drive down cost.
5. Very little maintenance fee.
Easy to drive and low likelihood of accidents, their only controls are the accelerator and brake.
6. MILES PER GALLON : MORE THAN 10 VS 1 (Leaf : 367MPG) compared with general combustion engine cars.
Applied to a different methodology from DOE formula, the notable EVs suffice to reach 200 to 300 MPG .
As an innovative Chevy Volt shows, even excellent hybrid cars and modern diesels are not comparable to EVs in light of fuel economy as the current fuel price went beyond the level of these autos and they failed to overcome this great recession, I guess.
7. EVs will likely be less expensive for people to drive with low-cost nighttime charging.
Sometimes EVs can be charged at workplaces or stores etc.
8. Batteries will become more efficient on the whole and their price will drop, whereas the oil will simply go up and up as it becomes more scarce. As simple as that.
9. EVs are simple and felt smoother and more torquey than the petrol models, and quiet, fun to drive.
10. Better Place is partnering with Nissan to create the charging infrastructure and a system for swapping depleted batteries for fully charged batteries in less than 2 minutes. This can extend the range of the vehicle to hundreds of miles.
11. Nissan has developed an IT system for its EVs, connecting the vehicle’s on-board transmitting unit to a global data centre to support EV driving 24 hours 7 days a week.
The system shows the driving radius on a maximum range display under the current state of charge and calculates if the vehicle is within range of a pre-set destination. The navigation system points out the latest information on available charging stations within the current driving range
12. The car will charge to 80 percent within 30 minutes on a quick charger. A full charge requires eight hours on a 200V outlet.
13. It features a timer function that will start the car’s air-conditioner or battery charging at a specified time to benefit from more favorable electricity rates by a mobile phone or the Internet, as well. An SMS can be sent when the battery is fully charged and the car ready.
14. The 24 kilowatt hours laminated compact lithium-ion battery pack is placed under the vehicle floor for more efficient packaging. The battery layout also allows smooth underfloor air-flow which helps reduce drag.
15. The regenerative brake system employed to recharge the battery during deceleration and braking extends the driving range to more than 160 kilometres (depending on driving style and conditions) under a full charge.
16. Durability is achieved by employing an additional frame for the battery pack to significantly improve the rigidity of the platform.
17. The electric motor will develop 80 kilowatts, which is the equivalent of about 107 horsepower.
It has a maximum speed of 90 miles per hour.
18. It takes a practical approach towards the family market with its tagline: “5 passengers, 5 doors” .
19. The design is streamlined and stylish.
20. In place of selling battery, leasing it represents not merely holding the price down but taking charge of its quality issue, from my position.
21. even when electricity is produced by coal, an electric vehicle will indirectly release less carbon than a liquid fueled vehicle. One source suggests 60% less: http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/24/study-even-with-electricity-from-coal-electric-vehilces-beat-g/
Once the U.S. switches the ‘unsustainable’ war and military wasting like health care wasting into investing in a smart grid, charging station infrastructure, the entire world will live in peace as U.S. spend more on military than the next 25 countries combined.
An extended mistake, oil wars, might barely sustain national automakers, not international, for some time at best, especially considering the invaluable lives and unsustainable military costs.
I’m convinced just like digital cameras, EVs are going mainstream sooner rather than later. Most recently, an analyst from Credit Suisse said: ” we believe the electrification of the car appears increasingly inevitable, with plug-in hybrids providing the bridge technology to full electric vehicles.”