Project Better Place is a name for an innovative company focused on building massive scale Electric Recharge Grids as infrastructure supporting the deployment of electric vehicles (including plug-in hybrids) in countries around the world.

When a driver travels long-distance, he can swap batteries at an exchange station to get a fully charged battery, similar to how he now stops to fill his gas tank today.

The Project was started by Shai Agassi on October 29th, 2007.

Investors

It has raised funding from various sources: VantagePoint Venture Partners, Israel Corporation, Morgan Stanley and private investors.

Similar projects

In France, Électricité de France (EDF) and Toyota are installing recharging points for PHEVs on roads, streets and parking lots.. EDF is also partnering with Elektromotive, Ltd. to install 250 new charging points over six months from October 2007 in London and elsewhere in the UK. Recharging points also can be installed for specific uses, as in taxi stands.

Launch

In early 2008, Tel Aviv Municipality announced a pilot scheme in which charging points for electric cars will be built and set up across the city. Initially, five charging points will be built and eventually 150 points will be located across the city. Furthermore, battery replacement points will be located at the city's entrances under the project.

On January 2008, the Israeli government has announced its support for a broad effort to promote the use of electric cars, embracing a joint venture between the Project Better Place, Renault and its partner, Nissan Motor Company. Renault and Project Better Place are working on development of exchangeable batteries. .

See also

• Charging station

References

1. ^ Électricité de France (5 September 2007) "EDF et Toyota annoncent un partenariat technologique en Europe relatif aux véhicules hybrides rechargeables" press release retrieved 10 October 2007
2. ^ Elektromotive, Ltd. (2007) "Elektromotive: The ultimate zero-emission transport system" company web site retrieved 26 October 2007
3. ^ Reynolds, L. (October 11, 2007) "UK to install 250 new public charging stations by next spring". The Battery Vehicle Society retrieved 26 October 2007
4. ^ Tel Aviv commits to electric car. Globes (2008-01-17). Retrieved on 2008-01-17.
5. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/world/middleeast/21israel.html?ref=world, http://www.projectbetterplace.com/press-room/press-releases/renault-nissan-and-project-better-place-prepare-first-mass-produced-electr