Better Place announces pricing for Renault Fluence Z.E. in Israel

Renault Fluence Z.E. – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ahead of its official launch scheduled for the end 2011, Better Place has unveiled a complex pricing structure for the Renault Fluence Z.E. in Israel. The base version of the electric sedan will hit the market at a price of ILS 122,900 ($34,265 U.S. at the current exchange rate), not including Better Place's service fees. The up-level Fluence Z.E. will start at ILS 129,900 ($37,274 U.S.). That's roughly in line with the cost of a new, traditionally powered vehicle.

Better Place's four-year service package includes installation and maintenance of an in-home charging station, free access to Better Place's public chargers and its network of battery swapping stations, computer support, navigation services and more.

Better Place says that for drivers who travel less than 20,000 kilometers (12,427 miles) a year, the service package will cost ILS 1090 ($313 U.S.) a month. For those that drive more, Better Place offers a service package that can take you up to 30,000 km (18,641 miles) at a monthly rate of ILS 1,599 ($459 U.S.). According to Better Place, its electric vehicle service packages will somehow reduce annual maintenance costs by 20 percent. YMMY, of course, but we can see that gas costs around $7 a gallon there now.

It's unclear if buyers will be able to adjust or terminate their four-year contractual agreement if dissatisfied with their plug-in vehicle purchase or Better Place's service, but one thing that is clear is that going electric is not going to be cheap in Isreal.



Source: Autoblog Green