Electric Cars Powered Up for Test Drive in Israel

Pi Glilot, Israel (Feb. 7) — If Shai Agassi has his way, your next car will be electric.

Agassi today inaugurated a center that allows visitors to learn about electric cars, test-drive them and put their name on a list to buy one. The cars are being made by Renault.
Agassi, a charismatic Israeli-American multi-millionaire, said his company, Better Place, will have thousands of electric cars on the road in Israel by 2011. At a news conference at the center today, Agassi said there will be between 70 and 100 battery “switch stations” in place by next year.

Each battery, which weighs in at more than 500 pounds, can go for 100 miles without being charged. Drivers who are taking longer trips can stop at “switch stations” and swap their battery for a full one. Customers will be able to charge the batteries at one of the stations or at their home or office.

Once the car is launched commercially he envisions bringing in 1,000 electric cars a month.

The California-based company Better Place, which is launching a similar project in Denmark, has global aspirations to set up similar networks all over the world. He said the infrastructure cost is the equivalent of one tank of gasoline per car on the road.

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