Better Place to test A123 batteries in American car?
A123 Systems may (repeat, may) have lost out on being the initial supplier of Chevy Volt batteries but that doesn't mean they are down and out. In fact, it appears that their lithium-iron-phosphate batteries will have energy storage duties for the electric cars of Better Place. Or at least some of the cars. A123 recently received an undisclosed amount of investment from Ofer Holdings Group which controls Better Place backer, Israel Corp. Idan Ofer, who is chairman of both Israel Corp. and Better Place made the announcement in Australia during a press conference for the launch of Better Place operations there. Got all that? Good, because it doesn't get much less complicated.
Better Place is reportedly about to import 10 family-type cars from the U.S. to be used as sales demonstration vehicles and conduct various sorts of testing and training with. Although Ofer Holdings has a joint venture with China's Chery Automobiles Co. that will supply cars for the Israeli market, there is a possibility these particular cars might come from Chrysler or Chevrolet. At least according to "industry sources" cited in a Globes article. There is also a possibility that cars could come to the U.S. from Renault in Europe and have electric drivetrains installed before being sent off to Israel. Renault is a partner with Better Place as well. It seems that the only thing known for sure is what Better Place is quoted as saying. "The cars slated for tests in Israel are being assembled in the US and will arrive in Israel soon." We'll let you know what they're assembling as soon as we find out ourselves.
[Source: Globes / BusinessWeek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Woodenbee 4:06PM (11/06/2008)
Sounds like better place is trying to point out how absurd the US car makers are about introducing EV's , simply import some, convert them to electric and watch all the phoney arguments they've been making for years melt away, all I want to know is how do the big oil kickbacks work? do they just pay them straight to the Car execs or is there some other system, anyone know?
Reply
gorr 5:12PM (11/06/2008)
This is just another nightmare communist technological and economic subsidized project. All it will do is rob honest taxpayers.
They make me sick. They try to do the jobs of regular car manufacturers and car manufacturers have said that battery don't work and that hydrogen work good.
Reply
antarctic74 5:14PM (11/06/2008)
What I find interesting about this piece of news is that Idan Ofer is an anagram for "fared ion" and "fir anode". How appropriate for an electric car investor. Unfortunately also for "road fine" which you may get with a too many fared ions.
Reply
jpm 8:03PM (11/06/2008)
So this is kind of ironic. Do I have this right? These oil rich million/billionaires are investing in battery technology. So when oil dries up someday they will be selling us EVs. Dammit GM, why did you have to shit the bed on the EV1.
Reply
Sam 7:48AM (11/07/2008)
Get over it with the EV1. It was too expensive and not practical at the time with cheap gasoline. I don't understand how someone people like you keeps harping on this matter.
James 12:24PM (11/07/2008)
I had A123 confused with CR123 - a button battery. I was very confused for a moment there.
Reply