Project Better Place using AC Propulsion drivetrain, Renault Megane mules
Click above and scroll down to watch the video
CBS has posted a short video feature on Better Place and, while the overall information won't be new to any of our regular readers, there are a few things for the hardcore to look for. First, in the opening seconds, you can see the dashboard screen read "AC Propulsion." So, that pretty much confirms the powertrain that Better Place is testing. There are two mules running around in the video, the Renault Mégane and a Nissan EV. In a sort of aside, reporter says that, on top of Better Place's partnership with Nissan and Renault, "other car companies are on the way." Largescale vehicle testing will start next year, and Denmark, Hawaii and Israel will have cars and charging spots in operation in 2011.
One thing that Shai Agassi says that will certainly get some attention is that, if you sign up for the maximum mileage plans (think taxis drivers), Better Place will subsidize the cost of your car all the way down to zero. Enjoy the free phone you get with your cell phone plan? Say hello to the "Oprah for everybody" plan that Shai Agassi wants to offer you. Plus, if you've ever wanted to see the Better Place model illustrated with toy cars and flash drives, this is the video for you. Watch it after the jump. Thanks to Michal B. for the tip!
[Source: YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Noz 3:07PM (3/20/2009)
Boy this company is pushing hard to monopolize....watch and see that's exactly what will happen.
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jake 3:36PM (3/20/2009)
I've never liked subscription models for that reason. They are fine if there is competition to keep the rates stable, but if it's near monopoly then then the companies start taking advantage of the customers (see the near monopoly cable companies and how bad their customer service is). It seems for Project Better Place to work, it'll take a near monopoly since it takes a central company to control and coordinate everything, having separate competing companies will greatly complicate this model (you need to standardize everything, which is a struggle even for something as simple as a plug, much less a whole battery pack).
Not only is the network going to be very hard to build, but also it'll take some convincing for people to trust one company to manage essentially the entire EV fleet in a country.
If given the choice, I'd rather take the chance of my battery becoming obsolete and pay for the electricity & batteries myself. I don't think we need battery swapping, rapid charging should be enough for most cases. We still need to standardize plugs for rapid charging, but that's comparatively much easier to accomplish.
Chris M 5:48PM (3/20/2009)
We've already got some legal, government regulated monopolies. For certain types of businesses, mainly utilities, setting up competing services simply duplicates cost and makes for higher prices for the consumers. For example, in the early days of telephones, several different companies would string wires to all portions of a city, requiring much more wiring and a tangled mess, raising the cost of providing the service thus driving up prices. Then the government stepped in, setting up just one phone company in each area but regulating the prices charged, resulting in less expensive phone service. The same thing happened with other utilities and cable TV. Of course it isn't perfect, sometimes the government regulators fail to regulate and simply rubber-stamp rate increases that aren't really justified, so we must keep an eye on the regulators and make sure they do a proper job.
So, I could see the potential for PBP to become a government regulated "battery lease & swap" monopoly. If done right, it would even be beneficial to the general public.
polo 7:50PM (3/20/2009)
First off, there is nothing wrong with a standardized model for charging stations. If anything it will be used by the market as the defacto model and you'll see utilities and other businesses setting up their own networks based off it.
Second, them offering to subsidize EVs is a huge plus. As it lowers costs for those who qualify, and the lower price-point will increase demand, meaning the overall cost for EV production will go down as a result of increased mass production.
jpm 3:46PM (3/20/2009)
"We're just like a cell phone company"
Yeah, good comparison, because people really love cell phone companies.
And build your battery swapping stations with your own money, not tax payers money. I don't have a problem with building charging stations via PBP w/gov't money as long as they are standardized.
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Austin 4:26PM (3/20/2009)
Better Place at this time has mega money into marketing and trying to become a "standard". Unfortunately, their restrictions by car model, propulsion type, charging / battery swaps prevent them from being a standard to any place.
As for their support network pipe dreams: battery hot swaps? Yeah I want to hope a car company is organized enough to enforce battery quality, fitment, and accountability of a "power network" which will undoubtedly fail as they try to get the vendor of the replacement battery / charging station to pay Better Place.
Better Place is making significant efforts for us the tax payers of the world as a whole to subsidize their attempts at turning a profit. This is too risky for anyone to buy into.
Additionally, this Israeli start-up with Israeli money could be knocked on it's bottom at anytime by the millions cheering for violence against the tiny country of Israel.
Taking it for what it is in the USA, I'm not one to vote to Federally or by State finance this foreign interest regardless of how they're marketing themselves. I'd rather run PHEV and have access to dual fuel sources + household UL plugs.
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polo 7:49PM (3/20/2009)
Your comments are pretty ignorant. We shouldn't invest in Better Place because they're based in Israel? wow.
And few people will agree with you on home-only charging stations. I'd rather be able to charge my car in 10minutes while I'm at the store, versus 8 hours at home being my only option. The home charging only makes sense if you can afford to put solar panels on your roof, and even I'd much rather have easily accessible charging stations. When these charging stations come online you'll see huge rollouts of EVs by the automakers, both because they're cheaper to produce in high quantities, and they will want to dominate the EV market early.
Sebastian Carausu 1:47PM (3/21/2009)
Not to mention that it's difficult for those who live in building blocks with a communal garage or worse, without a garage. Diversity is an asset, not a liability.
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bigbluejlr 4:57PM (3/25/2009)
Even if every initiative to push EV to come to the market, I hope that it will not be limited to this company !! and that you can buy one, including the bat and avoid too much surcharge on electricity !!
what seems very strange to me : Renault is supposed to be a french name, never they speak about EV in France !! not before several years, only prototypes and blabla
and we know, one is ready to work for BP. I m pretty sure it will not be possible to buy those cars without BP ( exclusivity) People will become mad and so angry if this happen, including me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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