AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Shai Agassi: Bill Clinton's best advice was that EVs should be free]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/shai-agassi-bill-clintons-best-advice-was-that-evs-should-be-f/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/shai-agassi-bill-clintons-best-advice-was-that-evs-should-be-f/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/shai-agassi-bill-clintons-best-advice-was-that-evs-should-be-f/#commentsFiled under: , ,

shai agassi better place

Shai Agassi has been pondering what it will take for electric vehicles to beat cheap gasoline-powered competitors. And he got some advice from former president Bill Clinton in 2006: giving away the car is a sure way to succeed.

Clinton offered this advice a year before Agassi launched Better Place, a company dedicated to powering EVs with swappable batteries and a subscription-based charging model. The company ousted Agassi in October and has pulled the plug on US and Australia operations, and is now focused solely on Israel and Denmark.

Writing over on LinkedIn, Agassi says he heard Clinton and current Israel president Shimon Peres speaking at a conference seven years ago. He approached Clinton and pitched his thoughts on converting Israel to electric mobility. At that time, Agassi was doing the numbers and figured he could sell an EV with a battery for about $32,000. He tried to convince Clinton that EV drivers would be saving enough money on what would have been spent on gasoline over eight-to-12 years to make purchasing a more expensive electric car economically sensible.

Clinton thought it was a waste of time. "By the time you will convince the rich folks in Israel to try it, then get the average folks in Israel to try it, then bring it to the US for our rich folks... the world will run out of time," Clinton reportedly said to Agassi.

Once that gasoline-engine car gets to about eight years old, it's going to be selling for less than $3,000, Clinton said. The EV has to be beat that price: "As a matter of fact, if you can give away your car for free, that's a sure way to succeed." Okay, that sounds good, but how do you give the EV away for free and still make money? "I don't know...you're the smart man around here," Clinton shot back before turning around and walking away.

It may sound strange, but Agassi sees Clinton's comment as the best business advice he's ever received. For Agassi, the comment wasn't really about selling the EV for free, but about finding a way to reduce the cost of the battery to, essentially, zero. It remains a compelling dream.

Shai Agassi: Bill Clinton's best advice was that EVs should be free originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery swappingbetter placebill clintonelectric vehicleevisraelplug-in hybridshai agassiWed, 06 Mar 2013 11:46:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20488124/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20488124/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/06/shai-agassi-bill-clintons-best-advice-was-that-evs-should-be-f/20488124/article-detail.xml 20488124 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/shai-agassi-better-place_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/shai-agassi-better-place.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place founder Shai Agassi still believes in swappable-batteries, subscription miles]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/08/better-place-founder-shai-agassi-still-believes-in-swappable-bat/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/08/better-place-founder-shai-agassi-still-believes-in-swappable-bat/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/08/better-place-founder-shai-agassi-still-believes-in-swappable-bat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

shai agassi better place

Shai Agassi's faith remains strong. The Better Place founder, who was removed as the company's CEO in October, still believes that a company that powers electric vehicles with swappable batteries and a subscription-based revenue model can be successful ... if operated properly.

While declining to disclose the details behind his departure, citing a confidentiality agreement, Agassi told GigaOm that he didn't "have an issue with the model, I had a problem with the company." He also noted that Better Place's electric vehicles account for about one out of every 200 new cars in Israel, making him optimistic about the concept's future.

Earlier this week, Better Place said it was shuttering its US and Australia operations to focus on Israel and Denmark, which the company considers its "core markets." The company has reportedly racked up well over a half-billion dollars in losses since Agassi founded it in 2007, though it did raise $100 million in December, mostly from its largest shareholder Israel Corp.

Agassi was pushed out as CEO in October and replaced by Better Place's Australia chief Evan Thornley, who himself stepped down in January.

Better Place founder Shai Agassi still believes in swappable-batteries, subscription miles originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>better placedenmarkelectric vehicleisraelshai agassiFri, 08 Feb 2013 12:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20453604/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20453604/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/08/better-place-founder-shai-agassi-still-believes-in-swappable-bat/20453604/article-detail.xml 20453604 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/shai-agassi-better-place_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/shai-agassi-better-place.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place swaps US, Australia operations for a focus on Israel, Denmark]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/07/better-place-swaps-us-australia-operations-for-a-focus-on-israe/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/07/better-place-swaps-us-australia-operations-for-a-focus-on-israe/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/07/better-place-swaps-us-australia-operations-for-a-focus-on-israe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Better Place

Better Place, the electric-vehicle battery-swapping technology developer, is swapping out its US and Australia operations to save cash and will focus its efforts on Denmark and Israel.

The company, which had operated offices in California's Silicon Valley, referred to Denmark and Israel as "its two core markets" and says sales there "are gathering momentum." Better Place started deliveries of Renault Fluence Z.E. EVs in Israel last January and said last summer that its vehicles had exceeded one million kilometers (625,000 miles) using battery-swapping stations in Israel and Denmark.

Last month, the company said CEO Evan Thornley had stepped down after just four months on the job. Thornley, who has been succeeded by Dan Cohen, had been head of Better Place's Australia operations before replacing founder Shai Agassi in October. The company reportedly amassed more than $560 million in losses since its 2007 founding. Check out Better Place's press release below.

Continue reading Better Place swaps US, Australia operations for a focus on Israel, Denmark

Better Place swaps US, Australia operations for a focus on Israel, Denmark originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiabattery swappingbetter placedenmarkelectric vehicleisraelsilicon valleyThu, 07 Feb 2013 11:46:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20450519/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20450519/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/07/better-place-swaps-us-australia-operations-for-a-focus-on-israe/20450519/article-detail.xml 20450519 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/betterplace_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/betterplace.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place's second CEO in four months steps down]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/better-places-second-ceo-in-four-months-steps-down/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/better-places-second-ceo-in-four-months-steps-down/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/18/better-places-second-ceo-in-four-months-steps-down/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Better Place

Better Place has long promoted itself to the electric-vehicle advocate community as the expert in battery-swapping technology. Turns out, the company is proficient at swapping out its CEOs, too.

Evan Thornley, who became CEO in October, had been chief of the company's Australia operations before replacing Better Place founder Shai Agassi. Thornley is now out, the company says.

Thornley helped the company "raise the capital it needed to sustain continued operations," but won't be leading the company's effort in expanding its sales and network of battery-swapping stations in countries such as Israel and Denmark. Better Place CFO Alan Gelman will oversee the company until yet another CEO successor is tapped.

Thornley took over company leadership after Agassi, who founded the company in 2007, was pushed out in October. Reuters, citing information from Better Place shareholder Israel Corp., says the company has racked up a deficit of more than $560 million since its inception. Check out Better Place's press release below.

Continue reading Better Place's second CEO in four months steps down

Better Place's second CEO in four months steps down originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 Jan 2013 07:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiabetter placeceoevan thornleyisraelshai agassiswappingFri, 18 Jan 2013 07:54:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20432307/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20432307/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/18/better-places-second-ceo-in-four-months-steps-down/20432307/article-detail.xml 20432307 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/betterplace_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/betterplace.jpg <![CDATA[Renault's Australian EV launch delayed by Better Place issues]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/19/renaults-australian-ev-launch-delayed-by-better-place-issues/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/19/renaults-australian-ev-launch-delayed-by-better-place-issues/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/19/renaults-australian-ev-launch-delayed-by-better-place-issues/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

renault fluence ze

Better Place continues to be a bit of a misnomer as issues with the electric-vehicle battery-switching network have delayed Renault's plans to debut its Fluence Z.E. electric vehicle in Australia, Car Advice reports.

Renault, whose EV is designed to allow for battery swapping, was originally slated to debut Down Under by June 2012, is delaying sales because Better Place's network of battery-switching stations were not ready on time. Delays in Better Place's infrastructure in Israel and Denmark are pushing back the Australia dates. A Better Place spokeswoman admitted to Car Advice that Better Place's original deadlines were "ambitious."

As a result, the Renault will start sales in Canberra, its first Australian market, in mid-2013 and will be distributed across Australia by the following year. The Fluence Z.E. is said to have a single-charge range of about 115 miles.

In October, Better Place founder Shai Agassi was pushed out by the company's board of directors and replaced by Evan Thornley, who had been CEO of Better Place Australia. Earlier this month, the Israeli business publication Globes reported that Better Place may fire as many as 200 workers, many of which work on the company's software.

Better Place has been estimated to have lost about $437 million since being founded in 2007. In November, the company announced it would attempt to sell about $100 million in company equity.

Renault's Australian EV launch delayed by Better Place issues originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiabetter placecanberraFluenceFluence Z.E.renaultWed, 19 Dec 2012 13:54:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20406920/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20406920/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/19/renaults-australian-ev-launch-delayed-by-better-place-issues/20406920/article-detail.xml 20406920 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/renault-fluence-ze_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/renault-fluence-ze.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place may lay off another 200 workers]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/better-place-may-lay-off-another-200-workers/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/better-place-may-lay-off-another-200-workers/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/better-place-may-lay-off-another-200-workers/#commentsFiled under: ,

Better Place

Better Place might not be such a good one when it comes to employment, given reports that the electric vehicle infrastructure network might fire as many as 200 workers. According to the Israels business publication Globes, Better Place, which at one point employed as many as 400 people in Israel, has already pink-slipped about 140 people.

Many of those on the firing line work in development and software, the publication said. Better Place confirmed to the publication that it was firing some people as part of its reorganization to make the company more financially solvent.

The recent months haven't been kind to Better Place, which has had orders for its electric vehicles from Israel-based leasing companies frozen in the wake of the reorganization. In October, company founder Shai Agassi stepped down and was replaced by Evan Thornley, the previous CEO of Better Place Australia.

The company has been estimated to have lost about $437 million since its 2007 founding, including about $128 million this year. Last month, Better Place said it would try to sell about $100 million in company equity, with Israel Corp., the company's biggest shareholder, set to fund about two-thirds of that total. Such cash would help Better Place broaden its current network of battery-swapping stations and charging units in Israel, Denmark and Australia.

Better Place may lay off another 200 workers originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agassibattery swappingbetter placedenmarkelectric vehicleisraellayoffsthornleyFri, 07 Dec 2012 10:09:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20395664/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20395664/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/07/better-place-may-lay-off-another-200-workers/20395664/article-detail.xml 20395664 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/betterplace_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/betterplace.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place's battery-swapping Coda taxis coming to California in 2014]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/02/better-place-battery-swapping-coda-taxis-california-2014/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/02/better-place-battery-swapping-coda-taxis-california-2014/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/02/better-place-battery-swapping-coda-taxis-california-2014/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Better Place

San Francisco will get a treat of a different kind in 2014 when battery-swapping network builder Better Place starts serving a fleet of electric-powered taxis in the Bay Area, Forbes reports.

Using funds from a $3 million grant from the California Energy Commission, Better Place will launch the project with four Coda Sedan EVs that will be customized by FEV to allow their batteries to be switched out in a matter of minutes. Ultimately, Better Place looks to support a fleet of 60 electric taxis between San Francisco and San Jose with six battery-swapping stations along the way.

Better Place, which already serves electric taxi programs in Tokyo and Amsterdam, began its battery swapping systems in Israel and Denmark with Renault EVs. Then, word came out in October that Better Place and Coda were working together on a battery-swappable taxi program for airports, though few details emerged beyond that.

In early October, Better Place replaced founder Shai Agassi with Better Place Australia chief Evan Thornley. While the company has raised about $750 million since its 2007 founding, it has also lost more than $400 million since then.

Better Place's battery-swapping Coda taxis coming to California in 2014 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 02 Dec 2012 09:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery swappingbetter placecodaelectric vehicleevsan franciscosan josesedantaxiSun, 02 Dec 2012 09:18:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20391508/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20391508/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/02/better-place-battery-swapping-coda-taxis-california-2014/20391508/article-detail.xml 20391508 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/betterplace-1354260950_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/betterplace-1354260950.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place looking to raise another $100 million by issuing company stock]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/05/better-place-looking-to-raise-another-100-million-by-issuing-co/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/05/better-place-looking-to-raise-another-100-million-by-issuing-co/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/05/better-place-looking-to-raise-another-100-million-by-issuing-co/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Better Place

Founder out, more cash in.

That could be the synopsis for the past month of electric-vehicle battery-swapping network Better Place, which booted its founder and is now working on selling about $100 million in company equity by issuing company stock.

Israel Corp., Better Place's biggest shareholder with about 30 percent of the five-year-old company, will likely contribute about $67 million, Reuters reports, citing public filings from Israel Corp. Better Place is looking to expand its current network of battery-swapping stations in Israel, Denmark and Australia.

Early last month, Better Place replaced founder Shai Agassi with Evan Thornley, who had been CEO of Better Place's Australia division. Better Place, which said in late August that it received a 40-million euro ($50 million US) loan from the European Investment Bank, raised about $750 million since its 2007 founding but has also lost more than $400 million since then.

Better Place looking to raise another $100 million by issuing company stock originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery swappingbetter placeelectric vehicleisraelisrael corp.shai agassiMon, 05 Nov 2012 13:54:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20369911/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20369911/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/05/better-place-looking-to-raise-another-100-million-by-issuing-co/20369911/article-detail.xml 20369911 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/betterplace_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/betterplace.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place, Coda an unexpected partnership for airport taxi battery swaps]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/15/better-place-coda-partnership-airport-battery-swap/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/15/better-place-coda-partnership-airport-battery-swap/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/15/better-place-coda-partnership-airport-battery-swap/#commentsFiled under: , ,

coda electric sedan

Our friend David Herron recently discovered that charging infrastructure supplier Better Place has added another automaker to its international network - Coda - though the company had yet to announce it. Better Place is known for partnering with Renault overseas to expand its network of charging stations and battery swapping locations.

Herron, a former Silicon Valley software engineer with a passion for transportation alternatives and fossil fuel reduction, now writes for online publications including his blog The Long Tail Pipe. He did research on a public filing from California Energy Commission on $20 million grants for clean transportation. The grant project is managed by Better Place and covers taxis serving the San Francisco and San Jose Airports. The goal is to deploy two battery swap stations and six battery-switchable electric taxis there and then collect data on the operations. While reading through the CEC filing, he stumbled across a PDF with more details on three involved parties. Their names:
  • Better Place Mobility Services, Inc.
  • FEV, Inc.
  • Coda of Silicon Valley
FEV Inc. is an automotive engineering company and Better Place is obvious. But what about the third? Did this mean Coda Automotive? While the electric automaker has had a slow start in the market, yes, it is in fact providing these six electric cars. We asked, and John Proctor, director of global communications at Better Place, provided this response to AutoblogGreen:

As you may know, we're developing an electric taxi program in the Bay Area. To fulfill our program commitment to demonstrate switchable-battery taxis, Better Place, CODA and FEV are moving forward with a collaboration to convert six CODA electric cars with fixed batteries into switchable-battery cars. It's another example of our ongoing efforts around the world to develop more makes and models of electric cars with switchable batteries.

For Herron, understanding the relationship between Better Place and Coda didn't make much sense at first - Coda isn't in a good place to make use of the alliance, especially since Coda doesn't distribute electric cars in countries where Better Place has swap stations in place.

There could be a global alliance that makes sense down the road though, Herron wrote. Coda announced a deal in April with Great Wall Motors. China would be a good market for a global electric car distribution system to expand for Better Place and Coda.

Better Place, Coda an unexpected partnership for airport taxi battery swaps originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airportbattery swapbattery switchbetter placecharging stationcoda automotivecoda battery swapcoda better placeelectric vehiclesevtaxiMon, 15 Oct 2012 11:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20349121/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20349121/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/15/better-place-coda-partnership-airport-battery-swap/20349121/article-detail.xml 20349121 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/coda-sedan_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/coda-sedan.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place shake up: Shai Agassi out as CEO, Evan Thornley steps in]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/02/better-place-shake-up-shai-agassi-out-as-ceo-evan-thornley-ste/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/02/better-place-shake-up-shai-agassi-out-as-ceo-evan-thornley-ste/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/02/better-place-shake-up-shai-agassi-out-as-ceo-evan-thornley-ste/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Project Better Place car undergoing battery swap

Rough starts and local criticism are nothing new in the green car start-up world, and it looks like Better Place is going through another all-too-familiar trope: CEO shake-up.

Better Place's CEO, Shai Agassi, has been "removed" by the company's board of directors in a surprise act. The previous CEO of Better Place Australia, Evan Thornley, has taken over for Agassi. Agassi will remain on the board.

Since starting Better Place, Agassi has been a strong proponent of plug-in vehicles (see examples here, here and here). He hasn't always been right about his predictions, but he's certainly been out there promoting the cause. Trouble is, Better Place hasn't had the success some expected - even though it has deployed plug-in vehicle charging stations and battery swap stations in multiple countries - and so now the official word is that Better Place owes "Shai our gratitude for turning his powerful vision into a reality," but it's time to move on. The Times Of Israel says Shai's reduction of rank is tied to "the company's financial problems, which are rooted in difficulties in selling cars and setting up the necessary infrastructure to support them." The Times says Better Place has lost around $437 million U.S. since it got started five years ago, $128 million of that since in 2012 alone.

Thornley has been CEO of Better Place Australia for four years, and previously worked to develop "EV Engineering Ltd., a collaborative venture between global automotive leaders, to develop and create switchable-battery electric car technology."

Continue reading Better Place shake up: Shai Agassi out as CEO, Evan Thornley steps in

Better Place shake up: Shai Agassi out as CEO, Evan Thornley steps in originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery swapbetter placeelectric vehicleevan thornleyplug-in hybridshai agassiTue, 02 Oct 2012 12:28:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20339387/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20339387/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/02/better-place-shake-up-shai-agassi-out-as-ceo-evan-thornley-ste/20339387/article-detail.xml 20339387 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/better-place-battery-demo-8-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/better-place-battery-demo-8-630.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place off to slow start in Israel market, says it's all part of the plan]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/19/better-place-off-to-slow-start-in-israel-market-says-its-all-p/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/19/better-place-off-to-slow-start-in-israel-market-says-its-all-p/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/19/better-place-off-to-slow-start-in-israel-market-says-its-all-p/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Based on the early numbers, Better Place is having a tough time meetings its initial sales target in its primary market of Israel of 4,000 electric vehicles in the first year, but the official word is that the slow start is meeting expectations. How slow? Since selling the first vehicles in July 2012, only 380 Renault Fluence Z.E. EVs had been sold (including cars to employees), with only 80 of those taking place in August.

Better Place customers lease EVs provided by company partner Renault SA, and pay a monthly fee to use its network of charge points and the battery swap stations. Customers benefit from vehicle prices that are $10,000 to $15,000 lower than other EVs, making the Better Place rides very competitive with gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles.

In early August, after many months of marketing trials, Better Place officially launched its sales campaign, "quiet" sales to car fleets, and road tests by company employees. Fleets are the target market, and the rising cost of petroleum is motivating companies to take the Better Place program seriously as they put their 2013 work plans in place, according to Better Place Israel CEO Moshe Kaplan. Kaplan is unconcerned about the slow start, and says it's in line with company expectations. "Companies are now approaching us as they are drawing up their work plans. Some of them want to close deals by October 31. We're talking about some of the largest car fleets," he said.

Kaplan says his company is pleased with the battery replacement station project. So far, 21 stations have been opened, making it possible for EV drivers to move freely from north to south. As for recharging stations, Better Place Israel has installed over 2,000 recharging points in 400 parking lots.

Better Place off to slow start in Israel market, says it's all part of the plan originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery swapbattery switchbetter placecharging stationsfleetsisraelWed, 19 Sep 2012 14:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20325935/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20325935/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/19/better-place-off-to-slow-start-in-israel-market-says-its-all-p/20325935/article-detail.xml 20325935 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/better-place_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/better-place.jpg <![CDATA[Campaign adviser's tough job: Get Mitt Romney to support EVs]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/10/campaign-advisers-tough-job-get-mitt-romney-to-support-evs/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/10/campaign-advisers-tough-job-get-mitt-romney-to-support-evs/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/10/campaign-advisers-tough-job-get-mitt-romney-to-support-evs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



If you're campaigning for Mitt Romney and believe in the electrification of transportation, you're kind of between a rock and a hard place. While Romney previously had supported electric and other non-petroleum vehicles, more recently, he's shifted his focus to freedom from foreign oil through domestic, clean oil drilling. Once upon a time, after all, Romney said the Chevrolet Volt was an "idea whose time has not come."

Dan Senor, one of Romney's closest political advisers, would like this presidential candidate to support EVs - and Israel - and has co-written a 2009 bestseller about the power of plug-ins. Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle makes the point that advanced new technologies like oil-free cars could transform entire global industries. Many countries in the Arab world are completely dependent on oil and should be going for biotech, medical devices, cleantech, greentech, and IT, according to Senor. He disagrees with the Romney campaign's argument that developing domestic carbon energy reserves would spawn an economic resurgence.

Senor, 41, has been active in the Republican party for years. He's been advising Romney since 2006 and has always thought Romney shares his views on the Middle East. More recently, Senor was named senior adviser to vice presidential running mate Paul Ryan.

Senor co-authored "Start-Up Nation" with American-Israeli columnist Saul Singer, and it was written, at least partly, to garner more support for Israel in the U.S. Singer is married to Senor's sister, Wendy Senor Singer, director of the Jerusalem office of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, a powerful pro-Israel lobby.

Senor's books and recent lectures have given a nod to Better Place, the Palo Alto, CA-based EV charging network company that's building the first network for electric cars in Israel. Better Place CEO and founder Shai Agassi was born in Israel and is depicted in the book as being the epitome of forward-thinking Israeli entrepreneurs. In January 2011, Agassi rode with Romney in an electric car during Romney's trip to Israel.

Senor has been playing a role as a critical emissary for Romney to Israeli leadership and the Jewish-American community. Senor has planned tours of Israel for Romney and other high-profile GOP leaders. The pressure's on for Senor now - will Romney win the White House job, and if he does, would he support Israel's role as an EV and greentech leader?

Campaign adviser's tough job: Get Mitt Romney to support EVs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 10 Sep 2012 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cleantechdan senorelectric vehiclesevgreentechisraelmitt romneyromneyromney campaignMon, 10 Sep 2012 19:35:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20318912/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20318912/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/10/campaign-advisers-tough-job-get-mitt-romney-to-support-evs/20318912/article-detail.xml 20318912 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/mitt-romney-at-podium-pointing-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/mitt-romney-at-podium-pointing-628.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place gets $50 million loan from European Investment Bank]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/29/better-place-gets-50-million-loan-from-european-investment-bank/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/29/better-place-gets-50-million-loan-from-european-investment-bank/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/29/better-place-gets-50-million-loan-from-european-investment-bank/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Things just got a little better for Better Place.

The electric-vehicle battery-swapping company said Tuesday that it received a 40-million euro (U.S. $50 million) loan from the European Investment Bank, marking the company's first credit line after raising all of its existing funding in the form of equity.

Better Place will use most of the funds to expand its battery-swapping network throughout Denmark and will use the remaining money to do the same in Israel. Founder Shai Agassi said that the funding will get Better Place a step closer to building out a charging "corridor" between Copenhagen and Paris in which EV drivers will be able to swap batteries all along the 750-mile drive.

Better Place said in January that it had raised about $750 million in funding since being founded in 2007. In February, Bloomberg News reported that Better Place would likely go public within two years in expectations that funding opportunities would increase as EVs become more prevalent.

Earlier this summer, Better Place said its vehicles had been driven over a million kilometers (625,000 miles) through standard recharging and by using battery-swapping stations in Israel and Denmark. At the time, the company, which uses Renault Z.E. EVs for the testing process, was operating about 55 switching stations in Denmark and Israel and had processed about 15,000 battery swaps.

Continue reading Better Place gets $50 million loan from European Investment Bank

Better Place gets $50 million loan from European Investment Bank originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>better placeeibelectric vehicleeuropean investment bankfundingloanrenaultshai agassiWed, 29 Aug 2012 19:06:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20310791/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20310791/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/29/better-place-gets-50-million-loan-from-european-investment-bank/20310791/article-detail.xml 20310791 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/betterplace0706_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/betterplace0706.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place Israel lowers rates, gives plug-in drivers 'a simpler and better deal']]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/18/better-place-israel-lowers-rates-gives-plug-in-drivers-a-simpl/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/18/better-place-israel-lowers-rates-gives-plug-in-drivers-a-simpl/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/18/better-place-israel-lowers-rates-gives-plug-in-drivers-a-simpl/#commentsFiled under: , , ,




Better Place waited until its fleet of Renault Fluence plug-in vehicles was just about officially, commercially operational in Israel before letting customers know that the cost to drive the vehicles will be less than expected. Better Place's official launch, which happened this past weekend, means that the cars are now available to both fleets and private individuals. Better Place is also offering consumers a new lower-price plan that is "a simpler and better deal," writes Haaretz, because the previous rate was causing problems for the company to break into the market.

Better Place is using traditional media advertisements to reach out to people - with the slogan, "It's not for everybody" - but it's the simpler plan that is getting the positive reviews. Remember, aside from battery swaps, Better Place's idea is to make EV driving more affordable by "selling miles" (like cell phone minutes). Previously, the lowest-cost plan was for 20,000 kilometers (12,427 miles) per year, and you needed to sign up for four years. The new cheapest plans are month-to-month leases (of a sort) that start at just 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) a month. Even better, those are "roll-over" miles, so you can drive more next month if you don't do as many this month. The cost is 65 agorot per kilometer (around 16 cents per km). Drivers who expect to spend more time in their cars can pay just 55 agorot per kilometer (about 14 cents) but they need to pay some money up front (either enough for 40,000 kilometers over three years or 50,000 kilometers over four years).

Better Place's first customer deliveries happened in January after years of testing and delays, which Better Place blamed mostly on trouble with building permits. BP's marketing and strategy manager, Ori Lahav, told the Jerusalem Post, that "Israeli bureaucracy really slowed us down." Currently, there are 250 cars and 10 battery stations in operation in Israel, and many more should be online soon. We have an in-depth look at Better Place's plans here.

Better Place Israel lowers rates, gives plug-in drivers 'a simpler and better deal' originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery swapbattery swappingbetter placeelectric vehiclefluenceisraelplug-in hybridrenaultrenault fluenceWed, 18 Jul 2012 14:05:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20280625/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20280625/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/18/better-place-israel-lowers-rates-gives-plug-in-drivers-a-simpl/20280625/article-detail.xml 20280625 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/betterplace_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/betterplace.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place may try an IPO within two years]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/01/better-place-may-go-public-within-two-years-report-says/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/01/better-place-may-go-public-within-two-years-report-says/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/01/better-place-may-go-public-within-two-years-report-says/#commentsFiled under: ,



Electric vehicle "miles" company Better Place will likely go public within two years to take advantage of what many expect will be broader electric-vehicle adoption throughout the world, Bloomberg News reported, citing an interview with company founder Shai Agassi last week.

Better Place will likely have one more private round of financing before filing for an initial public offering, Agassi told the wire service said. The company has raised about $750 million since its founding.

Better Place's concept - based on the cell phone industry model - is to lease charged batteries and charging time to motorists so they can drive an electric vehicle without also having to purchase a battery pack that could cost as much as the car. Cumulative sales of plug-in electric vehicles will reach 5.2 million vehicles in 2017, up from 114,000 vehicles last year, according to green-technology research company Pike Research.

Better Place last week started delivery of the first 100 Renault Fluence Z.E. electric cars to Israeli customers as part of the company's efforts to build out an electric-vehicle charging and battery-exchanging network throughout the country, and is planning on rolling out a similar network in Denmark

Better Place may try an IPO within two years originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery swappingbetter placeelectric vehiclegoing publicipoisraelrenaultshai agassiWed, 01 Feb 2012 18:14:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20162159/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20162159/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/01/better-place-may-go-public-within-two-years-report-says/20162159/article-detail.xml 20162159 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/betterplace_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/betterplace.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place starts Renault EV deliveries in Israel]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/better-place-starts-renault-ev-deliveries-in-israel/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/better-place-starts-renault-ev-deliveries-in-israel/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/better-place-starts-renault-ev-deliveries-in-israel/#commentsFiled under: ,



Better Place, the Silicon Valley company founded by former high-tech executive and Israel native Shai Agassi in 2007, has delivered the first 100 electric cars to Israeli customers. After years of tests and trial programs, the deliveries mark a big step in the company's efforts to build out an electric-vehicle charging and battery-exchanging network throughout the country.

Better Place has delivered the Renault Fluence Z.E. EVs to Israel, Bloomberg News reported, citing an e-mail from Better Place Israel Chief Executive Officer Moshe Kaplinsky. The company will deliver more EVs to Israel and is planning on rolling out a similar network in Denmark. Better Place said last month that it would roll out the program with Eldan Group, Israel's largest rental car company, and would target private consumers and corporate fleets.

Better Place is looking to promote the concept - based on the cell phone model - that motorists should be able to lease batteries and battery charging time so that buying an electric vehicle does not require them to also purchase a battery pack that can cost as much as the car itself.

The company said late last year that it raised another $200 million in equity financing from companies such as General Electric and UBS AG and that it would use the funds to expand its electric-vehicle battery swapping network throughout Western Europe and other parts of the world. The funding brought the company's total to almost $800 million in equity financing and almost doubled the company's valuation to $2.25 billion since its previous round of equity funding in January 2010.

Better Place starts Renault EV deliveries in Israel originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbetter placedenmarkeldanelectric vehicleisraelrenautshai agassiswappableFri, 27 Jan 2012 10:06:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20157915/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20157915/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/27/better-place-starts-renault-ev-deliveries-in-israel/20157915/article-detail.xml 20157915 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/betterplace_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/betterplace.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place signs deal with rental company in Israel]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/15/better-place-signs-deal-with-rental-company-in-israel/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/15/better-place-signs-deal-with-rental-company-in-israel/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/15/better-place-signs-deal-with-rental-company-in-israel/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Renault Fluence ZE

If you want to try out one of Better Place's electric vehicles, you'd have to move to a country where the project is establishing its infrastructure or else wait for it to come to your neighborhood. At least that's how it was looking until now. Because the latest announcement from the electric-vehicle startup has us booking our tickets for Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport.

Actually, we already swung by Tel Aviv to experience the Better Place model first hand, but soon you'll be able to as well. That's because Better Place Israel has just announced a rental deal with one of the country's biggest agencies. Starting in the new year, Eldan will offer the Renault Fluence Z.E. for rent, with full access to the Better Place network of charging posts and battery-switching stations.

The rentals are being targeted at private consumers (like you and me) as well as at corporate fleets - that is, the remaining ones Better Place hasn't already signed on to contract, anyway. Book your tickets now and you could be floating down to the Dead Sea, touring Jerusalem's holy sites and cruising the eastern Mediterranean coast in electric bliss in no time. Follow the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Better Place signs deal with rental company in Israel

Better Place signs deal with rental company in Israel originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>better placeeldaneldan groupelectric vehiclefluencefluence zerenault fluence zerent-a-carrentalThu, 15 Dec 2011 09:53:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20127773/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20127773/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/15/better-place-signs-deal-with-rental-company-in-israel/20127773/article-detail.xml 20127773 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/fluence-ze-bp_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/fluence-ze-bp.jpg <![CDATA[Better Place gets $200 million investment, now valued at $2.25 billion]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/better-place-gets-200-million-investment-now-valued-at-2-25-b/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/better-place-gets-200-million-investment-now-valued-at-2-25-b/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/better-place-gets-200-million-investment-now-valued-at-2-25-b/#commentsFiled under: , ,

better place hq

Better Place continues to play the investment alphabet game, with the company's Series C funding round netting $200 million of new financing from the likes of General Electric Co (not a surprise at all) and UBS. Even though many in the automotive industry are still skeptical of Better Place's battery swapping plan, the company is covering its bases with a robust, more standard charging scheme that sells miles the way cell phone companies sell minutes. The complete package is now worth $2.25 billion, at least according to investors.

During our visit to the Better Place visitor center in Tel Aviv, we learned that Israel is as good a place as any for Better Place to start a robust network. With that deal in place and others bringing Better Place to Tokyo and Hawaii, the new $200 million is earmarked for expansion in Western Europe. Better Place CEO Shai Agassi told Reuters that his company has proven that the model works and, "that it's in demand, and that it scales, as we begin to push into new markets and attract new investors and new partners."

Continue reading Better Place gets $200 million investment, now valued at $2.25 billion

Better Place gets $200 million investment, now valued at $2.25 billion originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>better placebetter place fundingbetter place investorselectric vehicleevplug-in hybridMon, 14 Nov 2011 10:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20105392/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20105392/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/14/better-place-gets-200-million-investment-now-valued-at-2-25-b/20105392/article-detail.xml 20105392 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/web62019-betterplace-israel_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/web62019-betterplace-israel.jpg <![CDATA[Ask Better Place's Shai Agassi a question]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/24/ask-better-places-shai-agassi-a-question/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/24/ask-better-places-shai-agassi-a-question/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/24/ask-better-places-shai-agassi-a-question/#commentsFiled under: ,

Shai Agassi Better Place

Recently, Ecomagination, General Electric's cleantech and sustainable infrastructure website, interviewed Shai Agassi, the founder and chief executive officer of battery swap specialist Better Place. Questions centered on how Better Place will forever change the notion that electric vehicles are range-limited machines.

During the past week, the folks over at Ecomagination have been gathering questions from fans and electric vehicle enthusiasts to ask Agassi next week, and Ecomagination is reaching out to AutoblogGreen readers for input, as well.

So, if you've got a question for Shai, or are interested in viewing Agassi's YouTube response to questions asked of him and his firm, then head over to Ecomagination's site. Shai's response video will air on GE's cleantech site September 26 (Monday).

Ask Better Place's Shai Agassi a question originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 24 Sep 2011 08:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery swapbattery swappingbattery switchingbetter placeecomaginationelectric vehiclegegeneral electricshai agassiSat, 24 Sep 2011 08:16:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20050158/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20050158/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/24/ask-better-places-shai-agassi-a-question/20050158/article-detail.xml 20050158 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/shai_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/shai.png <![CDATA[Touring the Better Place Visitor Center in Tel Aviv]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/touring-the-better-place-visitor-center-in-tel-aviv/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/touring-the-better-place-visitor-center-in-tel-aviv/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/touring-the-better-place-visitor-center-in-tel-aviv/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A quick spin in the Laguna EV at the epicenter of the Better Place project

Renault Laguna EV

Ask any addict why they don't quit, and they'll probably tell you it comes down to one sticking point. The addiction could be to caffeine or cocaine, but whatever the excuse - from work stress and social factors to depression or a general lack of willpower - addicts always have something to blame for their continued use.

The same could be argued for oil addiction. Because when it comes down to it, there really is only one sticking point that prevents a world dependent on petroleum from switching to electric vehicles. It's not about availability, because as any economics student (or drug dealer) will tell you, supply always catches up to demand. It's not about the source of the electricity, or the production and disposal of batteries. More than any other reason, oil addicts blame range anxiety.

For drivers used to getting into their cars and hitting the open road, range is a commodity we're just not willing to give up. While battery technology is constantly improving, it's still a long way from matching the range you can get on a full tank of gas and an endless chain of pump stations. But there's one company that says they've found the solution... or at least a stop-gap. One that could get the world's drivers off of gasoline and on the road to electric propulsion. We headed out to Tel Aviv to see what they were up to. (Continue reading...)


Gallery: Renault Laguna EV - Better Place Visitor Center - Tel Aviv


Photos Copyright 2011 Noah Joseph / AOL

Continue reading Touring the Better Place Visitor Center in Tel Aviv

Touring the Better Place Visitor Center in Tel Aviv originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>better placefeaturedfirst driveisraellagunalaguna evquick spinrenaultrenault lagunarenault laguna evtel avivvisitor centerWed, 27 Jul 2011 19:53:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20000041/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20000041/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/27/touring-the-better-place-visitor-center-in-tel-aviv/20000041/article-detail.xml 20000041 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/web62016-betterplace-israel_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/web62016-betterplace-israel.jpg -1 2