A Better Place-like project for the UK in Brown's agenda
The United Kingdom's PM Gordon Brown is meeting car manufacturers to try to persuade them to mass-produce electric cars. The carrot he's offering is selling them with payment plans that emulate cell phone contracts, à la "Better Place." This scheme, already been taken up by Israel and Denmark (and even Portugal), sells heavily subsidised vehicles – or even gives them away – in return for contracts to buy the electricity to charge them, like cell phones. The contract would allow consumers to receive electricity either by plugging into a network of hundreds of thousands of recharge points across the country or by exchanging flat batteries for fully charged ones. The plan is so ambitious, that Mr. Brown would like to see all cars running with electrons in Britain by 2020 and, if possible, made in Britain (Good luck with that part!). Thanks to Ron for the tip.[Source: The Independent]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
meme 11:17PM (7/22/2008)
*groan*
Not another "subscription plan" program :P
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Mirko 5:17AM (7/23/2008)
What's the problem about "made in britain"?
Ford, GM, Nissan, Honda, Toyota... they all seem to have nothing against making cars there.
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Simon 9:06AM (7/23/2008)
I guess it depends on whether he means cars made in this country or cars manufactured by a british based company.
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Andy 9:59AM (7/23/2008)
I like the way project better place is pushing the electrification agenda.
I will never like the subscription plan. Why do I want to pay for mileage. What if I am using my own home brew solar juice?
Just give me quick charge batteries and re-charge infrastructure in strategic locations when I'm on the road. I don't mind paying Shai a buck extra for his juice then.
Electricity is an easily available commodity. C'mon it's not like the freakin bandwith telco's overcharge us for. I can't build a fibre optic network on my roof.
Shai, you might even read this. Give us a break, some of us do understand basic accounting principles.
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真実は傷つく 11:24PM (8/03/2008)
"The plan is so ambitious, that Mr. Brown would like to see all cars running with electrons in Britain by 2020 and, if possible, made in Britain (Good luck with that part!)"
- In reply to the arrogance of that blogposter:
Let's all pray to the almighty God that future vehicles won't be made in the america ! ( They most probably won't be, since the whole world is realizing the worst crap in auto-industry has been labeled "made in U.S." for the last four decades & by now that's more than enough ).
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