Electric cars could soon be free. Well, free if you sign up for a six-year contract for batteries and charging, that is. A new company called Project Better Place aims to solve the biggest problems of electric cars — short range and long battery charge times. The company’s working with Renault to design a special electric car, similar to the Renault Z17 City Car concept pictured above.
To power this pocket rocket, the project has raised $200 million to build a huge infrastructure of battery-charging locations in Israel and Denmark, replacing about one out of six parking spaces in the countries with the charging stands for its electric cars, letting drivers charge up their batteries on the go.
For instant replenishment, there’s also a system akin to swapping out propane tanks for gas grills, using a network of 125 refueling stations where robotic mechanisms quickly replace easily-swapped batteries with freshly charged ones. Sounds like a great idea for a smaller country, but it’s going to take a much bigger investment to get something like this going in countries with gigantic geography.
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By TheAdlerian at 8:00 PM ON 03/31/08
The major problem with electric cars is where do all the city and apartment dwellers in the country plug them in?
That's the major flaw. Only middle class and rich home owners can have them.
By TheAdlerian at 8:04 PM ON 03/31/08
The major problem with electric cars is where do all the city and apartment dwellers in the country plug them in?
That's the major flaw. Only middle class and rich home owners can have them.
By Asher at 9:40 AM ON 04/01/08
Easy all that is needed is a power source at the owners car park. it could be set to recognize the vehicle that belongs there and only charge that car. It could connect automatically with an interface built into the cars touch panel navi system. CHARGE [Y]es [N]o simple. The charge unit could be supplied and installed by the car company who keeps ownership of it, much the same way internet companies keep rent the routers in most homes. You pay a monthly rental for the charging station and they upgrade/repair it when it breaks. All you need to worry about is the car, dont scratch it...
By Dazzler69 at 7:52 AM ON 04/02/08
Why not a solar panel on top? And AC plug at parking site? Not sure why this tech does not get followed up on.
By cybnetic at 9:14 AM ON 04/02/08
yeah, I can see it now. ooooh its free.. but you will spend huge bucks on their "proprietary" batteries and charging connectors.. no thanks.
By ti at 12:29 PM ON 04/30/08
@cybnetic: I'm pretty sure the huge bucks you spend on charging and batteries will at least equal to the $$ you would typically spend on an electric car.
Unless you know, you swap your batteries every 2 days or something.
By wsavage8 at 5:21 PM ON 05/26/08
i wish i had an electric car to drive i live in nothern california. nice looing car.
By zero at 11:13 AM ON 07/11/08
its about time some one helps the people out in are time of need we can't keep getting robbed at the pump much longer something has to give
By Anonymous at 12:00 PM ON 12/21/08
great site wish i had a little electric car it would fit just rite on my drive way