Better Place goes Canadian with Ontario electric car partnership
by Sebastian Blanco on Jan 15th 2009 at 11:07AM 
The electric car deal-making juggernaut that is Better Place is staking its claim on a new territory. BP representatives are in Ontario this morning and, along with Ontario Premier McGuinty, announced a new partnership to advance the cause of EVs - what they're calling a Car 2.0 model - in the Great White North. Better Place will do this by establishing a Canadian head office in Ontario and build an EV demonstration and education center in Toronto. Ontario is also working on a study, to be released in May, that will determine ways to "speed up the introduction and adoption of electric vehicles" there. Better Place will come up with an EV charging network plan and timeline for Ontario. Bullfrog Power, which partners with Better Place, makes 100 percent renewable energy in Ontario (that's their wind turbine in the picture).
We'll keep an eye out for more information on this latest announcement. For now, go ahead and wade into the weeds of the Better Place plan and technology a bit by clicking here. For more on Ontario's history with electric cars, check this out.
Gallery: Better Place Around The World
[Source: Better Place]
PRESS RELEASE:
Better Place Partners with Ontario to Bring 'Car 2.0' Electric Car Infrastructure to Canada
TORONTO (Jan 15, 2009) -- Better Place, the world's leading mobility operator, today announced a partnership with the government of Ontario to help bring an electric car network to the province and create a model for the adoption of electric cars in Canada. Ontario, which is one of North America's largest car producing regions, seeks to transition its auto manufacturing sector for future growth from electric vehicle production while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
"With today's announcement, Ontario is taking a system-wide approach to retooling its economy for growth and environmental leadership," said Shai Agassi, Founder and CEO, Better Place. "Our partnership will move Ontario toward a new era in personal transportation – from the current Car 1.0 model centered on the internal combustion engine to a Car 2.0 model of electric cars powered by renewable energy. Today's announcement is the all-important first step in an expected electric car charging network rollout for Canada, and we look forward to working in partnership with the Ontario government on it."
In conjunction with today's news, the company appointed Lawrence Seeff as Head of Americas Business Development. Mr. Seeff brings more than 20 years of global real estate and financial experience from leading and growing a privately-held, multi-billion-dollar firm.
Better Place will establish its Canadian head office in Ontario, and build an electric vehicle demonstration and education centre in Toronto to lay the groundwork to help get electric vehicles running on Ontario roads.
The province has committed to conducting a comprehensive study, which will look at ways to speed up the introduction and adoption of electric vehicles. The study is scheduled for release in May 2009. At the same time, Better Place will be developing an electric car charging network plan and timeline.
This announcement maintains the province's traditional strength in automotive production while incorporating the forward thinking technology of battery operated vehicles. Embracing this technology in its early stages will provide the province with the stimulus needed for enhanced job creation and economic growth.
Under the Better Place model, the company plans and installs a network of charge spots and battery exchange stations, giving drivers the same convenience to "top off" as they enjoy today with gasoline stations. Much like the mobile phone model, Better Place installs and operates the network of charging infrastructure, while leading auto manufacturers produce electric cars for the Better Place network. Better Place sources renewable energy to power the network, creating a zero emission solution from generation to grid to transportation.
For consumers, it means they're able to subscribe to a sustainable transportation service. Better Place provides the batteries to make owning an electric car affordable and convenient. Better Place will install charge spots in parking spaces at home, at work, and at retail locations, which enable the network to automatically top off the electric car.
For distances longer than what most people drive in a given day, drivers will pull into battery exchange stations to swap a depleted battery for a fresh one in less time than it takes to fill a car with gasoline.
Better Place is partnering with Bullfrog Power, Canada's only retailer of 100 percent green electricity, and Macquarie Group, a global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services, and is continuing to build other relationships both locally and around the world. In Ontario, Bullfrog Power will provide all of the renewable energy needed to power the Better Place network.
"Better Place is leading a bold and compelling movement, and we are excited to provide 100% clean, renewable electricity for its network and cars powered by it," said Tom Heintzman, President, Bullfrog Power. "For truly emissions-free transportation, it is crucial that we not simply transfer the problem from the tailpipe to the generator. Better Place is taking a firm stance by committing to fueling electric vehicles with renewable power."
Macquarie will partner with Better Place as financial advisor on developing a network rollout plan and investment timeline for Ontario. Michael Bernstein, Senior Managing Director of Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd., said, "The Better Place business model is an exciting opportunity for the domestic auto industry, the clean energy industry and the public sector to assist in the development of a sustainable transportation market in Canada. Macquarie is pleased to deploy its expertise in assisting Better Place and Ontario to develop a new electric vehicle network in Ontario."
The Better Place network of electric car charging infrastructure is built on open standards. One goal of the growing Better Place ecosystem, which includes The Renault-Nissan Alliance, is giving consumers a wide range of choices when it comes to vehicle make and model. The Japanese Ministry of the Environment also has invited Better Place and major Japanese carmakers to participate in a major electric car project there.
About Better Place:
Better Place is a mobility operator that aims to reduce oil dependence by delivering personal transportation as a sustainable service. Launched in 2007 with $200 million of venture funding, the company builds electric-vehicle networks powered by renewable energy to give consumers an affordable, sustainable alternative for personal mobility. Better Place is working with partners to build its first standards-based networks in Israel, Denmark, Australia, California and Hawaii. Better Place will activate networks on a country-by-country basis with initial deployments beginning in 2010.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 11:31AM (1/15/2009)
I'm not sure about the whole "cell phone payment strategy" thing, but standardized swappable battery packs make it easy (if not cheap) to upgrade as battery cell tech rapidly improves.
The downside is that standardization will place limitiations on automotive design.
IF EEStor is real (a BIG IF), Better Place won’t be necessary anymore.
In the mean time, Better Place will set up a markets and infrastructure so automakers can make and sell more EV's and we can all benefit from economy of scale.
The more EV's out there, the better and they ARE coming!
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Mark 12:14PM (1/15/2009)
I really hope Manitoba gets a partnership with Better Place.
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jpm 4:04PM (1/15/2009)
I can't wait til Better Place fails miserably. It's just another way for them to keep their hooks in you.
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Chris M 11:20PM (1/15/2009)
Even if they don't fail, how could they put their "hooks" in anyone? They can't force anyone to use their services, or to lease their batteries, and there will be plenty of alternatives available. If they try to make it too proprietary and restrictive, they'll find out the hard way that potential customers don't like that.
jpm 1:21AM (1/16/2009)
blah blah blah....thanks for the run of the mill devil's advocate argument.
FreeSunEnergy 12:24AM (1/17/2009)
I tend to agree. Just like the big auto firms established gas-o--line (the unwanted liquid gas remaining in gas lines, later called gasoline) as the standard fuel (as opposed to solid fuel for steam or external combustion engines, or oils for diesel engines...), this battery charging network promises to charge a premium over and above regular utility (or decentralized, renewable) electric generation. Thumbs down...especially if subsidies (money from sucker taxpayers) helps funds these monopolistic ventures.
BHendrix 3:46AM (1/16/2009)
Huh? He's just trying to understand what you mean. You made an assertion backed up by nothing.
JasonN 8:34AM (1/16/2009)
Yeah, a little rude there JPM! What is your issue with Better Place, enlighten us with some facts please.
Concerned 8:28PM (1/15/2009)
Fast recharge Lithium Ion batteries (5 minutes) are already available for electric cars and are expected to become the norm for long-range applications, eliminating the need for old technologies such as battery swapping. Other even faster recharge technologies are nearing the pilot manufacturing stage. The fast recharge power converter technology required to recharge a car using such batteries is more or less off the shelf and not difficult to make.
Though I am in support of electric cars, technologies that increase the cost of electric cars such as obsolete and unnecessary battery swapping shouldn’t be viewed as supporting rather hurting the industry. I am greatly disappointed to see a government such as Ontario supporting such an obsolete and unnecessary technology.
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Snoopy 8:48AM (1/16/2009)
This is awesome news. Personally, I'm not absolutely into the cell phone plan model either. I'd like to be able to charge my car using home solar or wind energy too, not just through their own system.
Maybe they could have a thing where users can supply power to the system via home solar or wind power and pay less to drive or, if they don't drive very often, make money.
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Sam 8:51AM (1/16/2009)
To all whom have doubts
1. They are a company, you are not forced to buy there products.
2. There prices will have to better than any other alternative, in order to survive.
3.This guy Agassi is know amatuer (head of product marketing & development SAP)
Im SURE he will adapt to all emerging technoloigies (Fast charging, cheeper batteries Ect. )
Embrace this company, its the best one out there
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FreeSunEnergy 12:45AM (1/17/2009)
Unfortunately, when nations like Israel, Denmark...provinces like Ontario sign on to an encompassing battery supply and charging network, it's not as easy to find alternatives. I.E., we may not be forced to buy their products, but certain car manufacturers will have used these products in their offerings. Much like Microsoft monopolizing computer operating systems, the computer manufacturers included the system and the consumer had less and less choice as MS got bigger and bigger and better operating systems were unable to compete. It's as if the car companies would suddenly offer a car that would run only on a special fuel available by Exxon. The other fuel venders would eventually go under.
There should be battery standards (size, consistent criteria to evaluate their power, capacity, and discharge cycle life)...and we hope this will promote fair competition to help the consumer get better and less expensive products. The FCC established standards for broadcast waves, and we need an agency to establish standards for batteries. If a firm makes a better charger, that's OK so long as they include a receptacle compatible with other chargers.
If I were to purchase an EV with Agassi's batteries and charging receptacle, I would expect to be able to lease (or buy) compatible replacements from someone else (if I feel this is best for me.). I don't think the Agassi plan allows for other charging stations to be compatible...so in effect, we've got ONE company selling us a unique kind of fuel we have to use. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Snoopy 8:27PM (1/17/2009)
You know, I was worried about that kind of thing too, and I still am, somewhat. I would only find it fair if they made it possible for other vehicles to use their infrastructure or chargers and make their vehicles chargeable at other energy providers' charging stations. The battery swapping thing might be a bit of a different story though. Other manufacturers would probably end up having to comply with the Better Place standard for that.
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Snoopy 11:29PM (1/19/2009)
Shai Agassi was on CBC's The Hour tonight talking about Better Place's business model and their plans. George Stroumboulopoulos asked him if Better Place is going to be a monopoly and Agassi essentially told him that they hope that any other company that wants to sell electric cars will run on a similar standard so there can be competition without the "format war".
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richard 10:58AM (1/24/2009)
Canada makes that best EV on earth already and yet there is no mention of it in the article. The ZENN. I'm in Sanibel Island Florida and it amazes me that this is the best kept secret in the automotive industry. www.ZennCars.com
Rich
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JC 8:06AM (1/30/2009)
I am not sure the validity of this but:
A friend who sells fixed power as well as carbon offsets told me that bullfrog's funding formula is flawed. He said the way OPG is structured it is hard to buy 100% green power. He also said that there is not enough renewables produced to meet bullfrog's peak customer demand.
I'd like to see concrete evidence from a 3rd party that shows bullfrog can meet its customer's demands. Alternatively a framework from OPG that guarantees that the power is in fact all renewables.
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jkoudelka@a123systems.com 10:50PM (2/03/2009)
Too much blah - no action - I can't charge up anywhere on the street right now and I don't suspect I will be able to for a minimum of a year yet - if I am lucky - It's just a wall plug - gimme gimme. I couldn't even imagine having a BEV - I would be calling to get picked up every day.
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Anita 9:35AM (2/11/2009)
Hey guys if you want to learn more about Electric Cars and what Shai Aggassi wants to do for us and how to help the world incorporate as a green health cheaper way to drive economy. Go on youtube and check out all his video's. (Educate yourself on how you can help is this process, we got a change now guys).... All your questions on this post will be answered....
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