Renault Fluence Z.E. Quietly Discontinued

While the Nissan Leaf electric car has seen sales surpass 100,000 units worldwide, its French ally Renault hasn’t had nearly as much success selling EVs. Production of the Renault Fluence Z.E. electric sedan has been quietly discontinued due to low sales and the bankruptcy of Project Better Place.

The bankruptcy of Project Better Place is a main contributing factor to the end of Fluence Z.E. electric sedan, as Renault had been building a special, battery-swappable version specifically for Better Place. Renault actually took the first steps towards ending production of the electric mid-size sedan in May of 2013 by halting production once the fate of Better Place became public. While Renault also offers a version with a permanent, rechargeable battery, sales were not strong enough to justify continued production.

That doesn’t mean Renault is without any electric vehicles though. It still has the Leaf-based Zoe Z.E., the Kangoo electric van, and the best-selling EV in all of Europe, the Renault Twizy. The Fluence Z.E also will live on in a way though, as the platform underpins a joint project by Renault and Samsung in Korea, called the Renault Samsung SM3 ZE. This largely identical car has a standard, permanent battery, but thanks to extra support from the South Korean government, has been doing much better than its European cousin. Some Fluence Z.E. customers also remain adamant in their love and support for these discontinued EVs.

For now it seems electric cars still work best as either affordable compacts or luxury-laden full-size sedans. Maybe the mid-size segment just isn’t ready for electric cars?

Source: Gas2.0

EV battery swap company Better Place files for liquidation

Better Place, a high-profile developer and proponent of a battery switch model for electric vehicles, filed a motion with the Lod District Court in Israel to ask for the dissolution of the company and the appointment of a temporary liquidator.

In its motion the company stated that in light of its failure to raise additional funds and in the absence of sufficient resources for the continued operation of the business, the company is asking for the court’s assistance in protecting the rights of its employees, customers and creditors.

This is a difficult day for all of us. We have come a long way in order to bring about a global vision. From the start, Better Place was a breakthrough for the infrastructure of the electric car industry and successfully completed the development of its technology and infrastructure. Israel was the first place in which an electrical car could travel without limit.

Unfortunately, after a year’s commercial operation, it was clear to us that despite many satisfied customers, the wider public take up would not be sufficient and that the support from the car producers was not forthcoming.

Against that background, the most recent fundraising round was not successful. In recent months, the management of the company did all that it could to keep the business operating. Today, in the light of our obligation to our staff, customers and creditors, we are applying to the court for the appointment of a temporary liquidator.

The management is requesting the voluntary liquidator once appointed to decide as quickly as possible to award compensation to customers and staff and maintain the functioning of the network.

—Better Place CEO Dan Cohen

In an interview with Israeli business daily Globes, Cohen said that the liquidator will have to decide the issue of disposition of batteries in customer cars; in the Better Place model, the customer owns the car, but not the battery. “Ownership of the car is different for each customer, and it’s true that the customer doesn’t own the battery. This is the first thing that the liquidator will have to examine, and it’s hard to give an answer now,” Cohen told Globes.

Better Place had raised more than $750 million in the four years after its founding in 2007, and by November 2011, had a valuation of $2.25 billion (post money valuation on a fully diluted basis). In August 2012, the company secured a €40-million (US$50-million) loan from the European Investment Bank, marking the first credit facility from a financial institution for the company.

Better Place apparently had been struggling since last fall, with the resignation of founder Shai Agassi in October 2012; the subsequent departure a few months later of Evan Thornley, who took over from Agassi; and the winding down of operations in North America and Australia to focus on Denmark and Israel.

In a statement issued announcing the filing for liquidation, Better Place said that over the past six months, management had made fundamental changes in the company, focused its strategy, goals and markets and at the same time had continued to seek additional financing for the business and secure additional models to supplement its current offer.

Despite significant efforts over that time frame, the company said, revenues are still insufficient to cover operating costs, and in the light of the continued negative cash flow position, the Board has decided that it has no option but to seek to make this application to the Courts for an orderly liquidation of the company.

This is a very sad day for all of us. We stand by the original vision as formulated by Shai Agassi of creating a green alternative that would lessen our dependence on highly polluting transportation technologies. While he was able with partners and investors to overcome multiple challenges to demonstrate that it was possible to deliver a technological solution that would fulfill that vision. Unfortunately, the path to realizing that vision was difficult, complex and littered with obstacles, not all of which we were able to overcome. The technical challenges we overcame successfully, but the other obstacles we were not able to overcome, despite the massive effort and resources that were deployed to that end.

The most important thing of all was that the intention was the right one. The purpose and concept of the business was to deliver a positive change in the world in which we live. We know that there is no certainty in any venture. It requires daring, courage, determination and resources in order to turn a venture into a sustainable industry.

The vision is still valid and important and we remain hopeful that eventually the vision will be realized for the benefit of a better world. However, Better Place will not be able to take part in the realization of this vision.

—Better Place Board of Directors

Better Place Withdraws from Australia and the United States

Better Place, an organization that invented, installs, and operates electric car battery swapping stations in only 4 minutes has decided to shut down its facilities in Australia and America so that it can focus on its operations in Israel and Denmark. This does not bode well for the innovative EV infrastructure company.

There were signs from December last year that their Australian operations were on the outs. Evan Thornley stepped down from his position after only three months after he replaced the previous CEO, Shai Agassi, who was the founder of Better Place. Shai Agassi was fired amid massive financial losses and a lack of focus.

According to Daily Kos, Better Place convinced only one electric vehicle manufacturer, Renault to partner with them to offer only one electric car with a switchable battery pack. Agassi pledged to buy 100,000 battery-swappable EVs from Renault, but so far they’ve only sold a few hundred in Better Place’s home market of Israel. It wasn’t so long ago that Better Place was valued at more than $2 billion. Now it seems like they’re on the outs after perhaps too many ambitious projects.

Project Better Place was a promising concept because it can enable electric cars to travel long distances and “recharge” in a short amount of time. Conventional electric cars take 3 to 8 hours to charge, so if a Nissan Leaf-like vehicle runs out of its 70 mile range per charge, it is stranded unless the owner is willing to sit with it for up to 8 hours to recharge it so they can get back home.  If the vehicle has a switchable battery pack, then assuming that swapping stations are ubiquitous enough, the owner could be on their merry way for another 70 miles after spending 4 minutes swapping the battery.

Unfortunately, Better Place has not found many customers willing to sign up for its subscription-like battery swapping plans, where you buy X amount of miles per month. Better Place will focus on Denmark and Israel for now, where the more dense populations and smaller driving distances are more conducive to EV ownership. No word on what’s happening with their Japanese projects.

The U.S. and Australia are just too big to fit Better Place’s business model. Will the unique EV infrastructure company find success for its business model elsewhere though?

Sources: The Truth About Cars and Daily Kos

Better Place Renault Fluence Z.E. battery swap video

Better Place Battery Swap video:

Better Place Raises $200 Million Series C Financing

PRESS RELEASE

With the launch of the first nationwide electric car networks in Israel and Denmark just months away, Better Place today announced that it has secured $200 million through a Series C equity financing from a consortium of top-tier investors and partners, nearly doubling the company's valuation to $2.25 billion (post money valuation on a fully diluted basis) since the last financing in January 2010. Since its founding in 2007, Better Place has raised more than $750 million of equity financing globally in an economic climate where investors continue to seek a competitive alternative to oil.

Better Place will use the proceeds to expand into Western Europe while it continues to advance the company's deployment projects in Northern California, Southern China, Japan, Ontario, Canada, and Hawaii. The company will launch its initial commercial service in Israel and Denmark early next year and has already announced a series of consumer offerings for electric mobility services that are competitive with gasoline-based cars. Better Place will begin initial commercial service in the second quarter of 2012 in Australia, starting in Canberra.

"We've worked hard over the past four years to engineer and build a technology solution that competes with oil-based transportation," said Shai Agassi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Better Place. "We are entering the next phase of growth for our company where we prove that our solution works, that it's in demand, and that it scales, as we begin to push into new markets and attract new investors and new partners. I believe that our investors should be applauded for having the vision to finance the future of transportation."

New investors in the Series C round include GE and UBS AG, among others. Existing shareholders, including Israel Corp., HSBC Group, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, VantagePoint Capital Partners, Ofer Group and Maniv Energy Capital also joined the round. The Series C financing transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2011.

"With this round, our shareholder base now includes the world's largest banks, blue chip asset managers and leading industrial holding companies," said Idan Ofer, Chairman, Better Place. "Our Board, as well as all of our investors, continues to be both confident and enthusiastic about the opportunity that Better Place presents. The highly competent Better Place team has the talent and technology to rapidly deploy its electric car network on a global scale. Our Board and investor base are committed to leveraging their vast networks, experience, and diverse set of skills to accelerate the global adoption of electric cars."

BETTER PLACE TARGETS WESTERN EUROPE NEXT

By the end of the year, Better Place will have demonstrated its solution across four continents including locations in Europe, the Middle East, the U.S., Australia, China and Japan, with each project providing unique insights into these markets.

With the Series C financing, Better Place will expand its geographic footprint beyond Denmark and further into Western Europe where government policy supporting electric cars and interest in public / private partnership are the strongest.

The company, which currently has more than 100 employees in Europe, will leverage its Danish operations, its European Commission-approved projects, and its market-leading ecosystem of partners as the building blocks for expanding into Western Europe. In September, Better Place opened an office in Paris to serve as its European headquarters, which it will use as a base for attracting talent, investors, and partners.

BETTER PLACE SET TO LAUNCH COMMERCIAL SERVICE

Better Place will launch initial commercial service to a select group of customers in Israel and Denmark in the first quarter of 2012, expanding to full commercial operations over the following months. A similar process will follow in Canberra, Australia in the second quarter of 2012. The company is currently in the final technical validation stage of its solution along with the Renault Fluence Z.E. cars. Interest and demand for Better Place mobility services and the Renault Fluence Z.E. electric sedans continues to be very strong across all three initial markets. Better Place's goal is to help make the switchable battery electric car the top selling car in the markets it enters.

In Israel, Better Place has seen strong market demand from both fleets and consumers, as over 400 corporations, representing a potential of 80,000 employee cars, have signed letters of intent to begin switching their fleets to Better Place as the cars and the service become available.

Denmark is also seeing strong momentum. Almost 7,000 people have come to the Better Place Center in Copenhagen, opened earlier this year, with 90 percent expressing an interest in buying an electric car in the future. The company has received over 1,000 pre orders from both private and business customers. Better Place also has been successful in reaching agreements with 50 of the country's 98 municipalities, covering 69 percent of the population, related to infrastructure deployment and fleet transitions.

In Australia, the company's first large country deployment, Better Place has announced a series of agreements with multi-national companies, including Renault and GE, and leading local companies including ActewAGL, Lend Lease, and the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), for the introduction of electric cars and the rapid deployment of an electric car network. By the end of 2013, Better Place expects to have the largest electric car network in the world in Australia, rivaling other competitive efforts underway in the U.S. and China.

About Better Place
Better Place is the leading global provider of electric car networks that enables the mass market adoption of electric cars through an innovative battery switch model that makes driving electric cars more affordable, convenient and sustainable than today's petrol-based cars. Better Place owns and operates a network of battery switch stations and public/personal charge spots, along with the supply of batteries that power the cars, to provide drivers with instant range extension and the convenience to drive, switch and go across an entire region. Where possible, Better Place uses renewable sources of energy to deliver fully zero emissions driving. The World Economic Forum has named Better Place a "Global Growth Company Industry Shaper" for its innovative approach in advancing the global switch to electric cars. Check out www.betterplace.com

Touring the Better Place Visitor Center in Tel Aviv

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



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

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Photos Copyright 2011 Noah Joseph / AOL

Now, Israel is a country that's no stranger to the news, but the automotive section is hardly where you'd expect to find it. That's because, while its tech sector is burgeoning with more NASDAQ-listed companies than any country outside North America, the fledgling Mediterranean enclave has no automotive industry to speak of, and – in stark contrast to its neighbors – no oil, either (recent natural gas discoveries notwithstanding).

What's brought Israel to the attention of the automotive industry is the electric car project started by Shai Agassi, a former SAP executive who found in his homeland an ideal launch-pad for the project known as Better Place – and we'll tell you why.



For starters, Israel has a vested interest in reducing the world's dependence on foreign oil, much of which comes from its largely hostile neighbors. For another, Israel's gas prices are about 50 percent higher than what Americans wince at shelling out at the pump. Finally, Israel is a tiny country, roughly the same size and population as New Jersey, but with one vital difference: while many residents of the third smallest state in the union regularly drive outside the Garden State, Israelis are bound to relatively short commutes.

Little wonder, then, that Better Place and Israel found in each other an ideal partner. So what's the big idea? When it comes down to it, it's rather simple. Instead of leaving drivers to worry if their batteries will last the day or last the year, Better Place is setting up a network of installations to rival the proliferation of gas stations over the past century. Part of it comes down to a multitude of charging outlets, but the novelty is the battery swap station, which Better Place is building in Israel, Denmark, Tokyo and other locations.



The Better Place model encompasses swap stations that are as simple to use as an automated car wash. Drive up in your electric car and the mechanism positions the vehicle, drops the spent battery out the bottom and replaces it with a charged one. The entire process, from arrival to departure, takes three to five minutes (depending on the car), of which 50-90 seconds are spent actually swapping the battery. Then you're on your way, without having to wait for the battery to charge.

As long as there's a switch station along your route, range anxiety is eliminated, and Better Place has already opened the first of over 50 slated to open across Israel. And to eliminate the concern of buying a battery that will deteriorate with every use, Better Place owns and maintains the packs themselves. The idea is to sell miles, not big battery packs.



The process is demonstrated at the Glilot interchange just outside Tel Aviv at a location that could hardly be more symbolic: The facility used to house Israel's strategic oil reserves, which were relocated following a botched terrorist attack. Better Place has converted it into a center for visitors to peer into a future that dispenses with the internal combustion engine and all that entails.

Once launched, the location will also serve as the central dealership for the network of cars that are expected to fill the country's motor ways and parking lots. Even before pricing and final specifications were announced, Better Place had already received preliminary orders from over 10,000 customers, plus another 60,000 from 150 of the 300 largest corporate fleets in the country.




In the meantime, the visitors have been coming: Since opening in February 2010, the facility has attracted schools, tourists, political leaders like French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Senator Joe Lieberman and celebrities like Leonardo di Caprio and Bar Rafaeli.

The tour starts with a video in a theater furnished with the reupholstered seats of old cars, after which the Renault Fluence ZE that will be the first vehicle offered under the program spins out on a turntable. Then it's off to the neighboring structure where the battery swap is demonstrated, in our case, on a Nissan Rogue converted to electric power before eligible drivers can take to the wheel of one of Better Place's electric vehicles.




As we were there before the Fluence Z.E. was launched, our drive took place in a converted Renault Laguna prototype. FEV swapped out the 2.0-liter diesel engine and 6-speed manual transmission and installed an 18-kWh battery juicing a 125 kW (168 hp) electric motor – only slightly less power than the top-spec diesel Laguna from the factory. Tipping the scales post-conversion at 1,735 kg (3,825 lbs), the EV is heavier than the 1,507-kg (3,322-lb) Laguna III Dynamique sedan on which it's based, but can still run 0-60 in under 11 seconds and cruise to a range of over 60 miles.

That proved more than enough to get us up and down the track a few times, providing smooth acceleration uninterrupted by changing gears. While the weight is higher than stock, its lower center of gravity made it feel flatter through the corners. And the lower revs at which the power comes in, even compared to a torquey diesel, means the pedal can be put down earlier, too. Otherwise, the driving experience is much as you'd expect from a conventional or hybrid vehicle.



The Fluence Z.E. that will actually be offered on the market, by comparison, is both smaller and – at 1,543 (3,402 lbs) – lighter than the Laguna EV. Its 70-kW (94-hp) electric motor isn't nearly as powerful, but that's purportedly enough to take it from 0-62 mph in about 9 seconds. With a 100-mile range, the Fluence Z.E. is capable of traveling much farther between charges or battery swaps.

The Better Place model, at the end of the day, is a good start, but it's no magic solution. But then, nothing is. Because like kicking any addiction, weaning ourselves off of fossil fuels will take time. But after seeing first-hand what Better Place has in store, that long arduous road ahead looks just a little smoother.



Source: Autoblog Green

Better Place Shows Off Europe's First Battery Switch Station

Better Place battery-swap demonstrationGallery

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Better Place has moved a bit further down the road in its quest to corner the electric vehicle market. In Denmark, the company has just unveiled Europe's first Battery Switch Station, which will serve as the cornerstone of Better Place's biggest real-world test to date.

The grand event was held at a new Better Place facility in Gladsaxe, just outside Copenhagen. The vehicle used to demonstrate the station's functionality was the Renault Fluence Z.E. -- which isn't terribly surprising, given Renault's close partnership with Better Place and its founder/frontman, Shai Agassi.

Over the next nine months, additional Better Place Battery Switch Stations will be built across the country in partnership with numerous municipalities and DONG Energy. In total, Better Place aims to construct 20 such facilities in building a nationwide charging infrastructure.

The Battery Switch Stations are almost fully automated, and motorists can stay buckled up for the entire process. Drivers swipe their membership card at the entrance, and according to the company's press release, "The rest of the process is automated, similar to going through a car wash, so the driver never has to leave the car. In just a few minutes, a robotic arm removes the depleted battery and replaces it with a full one and the driver is back on the road."

Our take

Of the many electric vehicle manufacturers vying for a piece of the consumer market, Better Place may face the toughest road ahead. While some drivers like the idea of swappable batteries, most prefer to recharge. In fact, according to a recent survey from Accenture, 62% of consumers would rather recharge, compared to the 38% who'd like to trade dead batteries for fresh ones.

Granted, 38% isn't a terrible figure -- truth be told, it's higher than we'd have thought -- and granted, the EV charging battle may not be all-or-nothing. In fact, there may be room on Planet Earth for both sorts of electric vehicles.

But Better Place still faces a huge hurdle, and that's the massive infrastructure developments that the swappable-battery model requires.

Many current EVs can charge from a standard wall plug, and in the future, even that may not be necessary if inductive charging becomes the norm. (Given the diminishing importance of wires and cables in our daily lives, we're betting/hoping that it will.)

Better Place, however, requires real estate, buildings, and large-scale charging stations. And if someone comes along with a smarter, more clever battery system, who's to say that Better Place will be able to retrofit its stations to accommodate the new standard? It seems like a lot of work for an intermediate step toward an all-electric future.

Source: All Cars Electric

Renault and Better Place partner in Australia to launch Fluence Z.E. with switchable battery in 2012

Renault Fluence Z.E.

Renault and Better Place formed a strategic partnership in Australia, expanding their global relationship. Under this agreement, Renault will import the first electric car equipped with a switchable battery, the Fluence Z.E., into Australia, and Better Place will provide the electric car charging network and services that make the car more convenient and affordable for the mass market.

Renault and Better Place will commence a joint marketing campaign in the lead up to launch in 2012. The cars will arrive in Australia by the middle of 2012 for the first customers in Canberra, with general sales due to commence later in the year. Customers will buy the Fluence Z.E. from Renault and sign up for a Better Place membership package that is tailored for their driving needs.

As the first production mid-size sedan electric vehicle, Renault Fluence Z.E. is targeting both private motorists and fleet operators who are looking for a vehicle that is both economical to run and more respectful of the environment.

The switchable battery technology offsets the range limitation of traditional EVs, as a depleted battery can be exchanged for a fully charged one at Better Place’s fully automated battery switch stations. The car will be fully compliant with ADR. The Fluence Z.E. will offer Australian drivers a range of 185 kilometers (115 miles) on a full charge, under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).

Better Place is building and operating the first fully integrated electric car charging network in Australia, and it will be the infrastructure provider for the innovative Fluence Z.E. Better Place has announced its plans to begin the deployment of its infrastructure in Canberra, Australia’s capital city, starting in late 2011, with a progressive national rollout to follow. By 2013, Better Place says it will give Australia the largest electric car charge network in the world, which is expected to outpace current deployment plans in market-leading countries including the US and China.

The Better Place membership provides unlimited access to batteries, the network of public charge spots and battery switch stations, and personal charge spots at home or work. The membership also includes supply of 100% renewable electricity, personalized energy management and navigation services via in-car and network software and 24-hour access to customer service and support. The membership packages give drivers a fixed price for their mobility, freeing them form the constant volatility of gasoline prices.

Customers will be able to purchase Fluence Z.E. in selected Renault dealers, as well as through Better Place Experience Centres. Most Renault dealers will provide after sales support for Fluence Z.E., both for regular service and specific repairs.

Australian homes have an average of 2.7 cars per household and one million new passenger and light commercial vehicles are sold every year. Average fuel consumption is 11 L/100 km (21.4 mpg US) and average mileage 20,000 to 25,000 km (12,400 to 15,500 miles) a year.

Electric mobility is a key strategic move from Renault. Together with Nissan, Renault will be investing 4 billion euros in electric cars. Fluence Z.E. is the first electric car that enables virtually unlimited mileage, thanks to the battery swap technology. It will be sold everywhere in Europe and together with Better Place, in Israel and Denmark. We think Fluence Z.E., together with Better Place switch stations, will be a very attractive offer for Australian customers, who traditionally commute long distances.

—Thierry Koskas, Renault’s VP for Electric Vehicle program

Source: Green Car Congress

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

Better Place, China Southern Grid Sign Strategic Agreement Centered on Battery Switch Model

PRESS RELEASE

Guangzhou Municipal Government Signs Agreement to Aid New Partnership

At a signing ceremony today in Israel with officials from Guangzhou, Better Place announced a strategic agreement with China Southern Power Grid Co. (CSG), the world’s eighth largest utility according to the Fortune Global 500. The agreement, which focuses on joint electric car and infrastructure projects in CSG’s service areas, will further advance electric cars with switchable batteries in China. The agreement calls for the companies to open a battery switch station and joint education center in Guangzhou before the end of the year, while working to formalize a joint-venture partnership.

“Better Place has conducted extensive research and testing on its battery-switch technology combined with managed charging, which takes into account the attributes and needs of the electric grid as the electric-car industry grows rapidly in China”

Underscoring Guangzhou’s support for the Better Place-CSG cooperation, Executive Vice Mayor Wu Yimin today signed an agreement with Better Place Founder and CEO Shai Agassi that calls for the Municipal Government of Guangzhou to assist Better Place and CSG in their efforts to create a supply chain hub and electric car network in China’s third largest city and home to CSG. The Guangzhou accord calls for the municipal government to encourage local car manufacturers, such as Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group, to produce electric cars with switchable batteries. It also calls for the city to promote electric-car adoption in fleet segments including public-sector vehicles and private-sector fleets such as taxis.

“China Southern Grid is an important partner in a huge market that is moving quickly toward the mass-market development of electric cars and is embracing battery switch as the primary means of range extension,” Agassi commented. “Our collaboration with China Southern and the support of the Guangzhou government open the door to new opportunities for switchable-battery electric cars made by Chinese manufacturers for the domestic and export markets.”

“Better Place has conducted extensive research and testing on its battery-switch technology combined with managed charging, which takes into account the attributes and needs of the electric grid as the electric-car industry grows rapidly in China,” said China Southern Grid Chairman Zhao Jianguo. “We believe that networked infrastructure is critical to enable broad adoption and focusing on charging alone would be too costly and time-consuming. The battery-switch model may become mainstream in China and our joint visitor center and battery switch demonstration project with Better Place will help promote electric-car adoption in China by allowing potential customers to experience this innovative solution.”

“Electric cars present a great opportunity for China and are critical to achieve a low carbon economy. We will support this rapidly growing industry by encouraging production of electric cars in the region and promoting adoption in fleets,” said Wu Yimin, Executive Vice Mayor of Guangzhou. “The cooperation between China Southern Grid and Better Place is a strategic step, and both companies will have our full support. We are pleased to host the joint education center, the first of its kind in China, later this year.”

The Better Place-CSG agreement calls for the companies to jointly engage relevant Chinese government bodies and other stakeholders, secure governmental policy support, and promote technical standards, where appropriate, to further accelerate China’s rapidly-growing, electric-car industry. The companies will develop in phases the joint education center to host government and industry delegations and educate Chinese consumers about the benefits of going electric. The center will include interactive exhibits, meeting facilities, electric cars that visitors can test drive, and an automated battery switch station. The facility is slated to open before the end of year in central Guangzhou. Better Place currently operates similar centers near Tel Aviv, Copenhagen, and Toronto, hosting nearly 100,000 visitors per year.

As CSG and Better Place further develop their relationship, the companies also are looking at the potential for a joint commercial operation based on a switchable-battery, network-operator model. Their pilot projects and other joint activities will explore the benefits that switchable-battery electric cars and the networked infrastructure that supports them can deliver to the electric grid in CSG’s service area, which spans five provinces, one million square kilometers, and 230 million people in Southern China.

CSG, which ranks number 156 on the Fortune Global 500 list of the world’s largest corporations, is part of the Electric Vehicle Industry Alliance led by China’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, or SASAC. The Chinese government created the alliance of state-owned auto, battery, electric, and oil companies with the ultimate goal of building internationally competitive electric-car brands. The Chinese government has declared the electric-car industry one of seven strategic emerging sectors, stated its intent for China to become the world's largest developer and manufacturer of electric cars, and offered strong support in the form of investment and incentives as the country seeks to leapfrog combustion-engine technology and reduce a growing dependence on oil.

Agassi added, “We are in advanced discussions with a number of Chinese automakers to partner around our open network solution and we will share our selection of preferred partners with the market once a final decision is made.”

By the end of the year, Better Place will have battery switch stations under deployment in countries on four continents, including the U.S., Europe, Australia and now China. The deployments form the basis of a growing network for making electric cars more affordable, convenient and sustainable than today’s cars with internal combustion engines. The Better Place model also offers governments around the world a solution for reducing dependence on oil and its harmful contributions to global climate change and local pollution while growing domestic green jobs.

About Better Place

Better Place, the world’s leading electric car services provider, is accelerating the global transition to sustainable transportation. Better Place is building the infrastructure and intelligent network to deliver a range of services to drivers, enable widespread adoption of electric cars, and optimize energy use. The Better Place network addresses historical limitations to adoption by providing unlimited driving range in a convenient and accessible manner. The company works with all parts of the transportation ecosystem, including automakers, battery suppliers, energy companies, and the public sector, to create a compelling solution. Based in California and privately held, Better Place has operating companies in Israel, Denmark, and Australia. More information is available at www.betterplace.com.

Better Place and Renault launch in Copenhagen the first "unlimited mileage" electric car

PRESS RELEASE

Better Place opened today, together with its partner Renault, Europe's first Better Place center. Visitors will now be able to experience sustainable mobility and will have the opportunity to place an order for a Renault Fluence Z.E. with the Renault staff and sign up with the Better Place team for a subscription of mobility services – conveniently packaged for consumers, fleet managers and the public sector.

Attractive prices unveiled

On the Fluence Z.E. "Prime Time" launched in Denmark from 205.000 DKK (€27.496), including VAT, Better Place will offer consumers a choice of five, fixed-price, packages based on kilometers driven. For drivers who drive more than 40.000 kilometers per year, Better Place offers a fixed-price package of 'all you can drive' kilometers for 2.995 DKK (€399) per month, effectively giving drivers of the switchable-battery Fluence Z.E. unlimited driving range and unlimited kilometers in Denmark in an era when oil prices are at an all-time high and rising.

For drivers who drive less than 20.000 kilometers per year, the fixed monthly price offer ranges from 1.495 DKK (€199) to 1.895 DKK (€249). Each subscription includes a one-time fee of 9.995 DKK (€1.341) for the installation of a private charge spot so that drivers can safely plug in at home.

Initial delivery of the Renault Fluence Z.E. with Better Place mobility services will occur in the fourth quarter of this year.

The Renault Fluence Z.E. "Prime Time" will include, as standard features, climate control, navigation and energy management services via the in-car software system, radio-CD, alloy wheels, electric mirrors, 4 electric windows, central locking, a state-of-the-art lithium-ion switchable battery and many more equipments.

The car will offer Danish drivers a range of up to 185 kilometers, measured on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) with a fully charged battery. Actual range is virtually "unlimited," thanks to the convenience of switchable battery technology that will enable drivers to "refuel" their Fluence Z.E. in under five minutes in the Better Place network of battery switch stations.

Every subscription includes unlimited access to the Better Place network of public charge spots and battery switch stations, electricity usage, personalized energy management and navigation services via in-car and network software, an inventory of batteries with a guaranteed service level agreement, 24-hour access to customer service and support, and a private charge spot.

Overall, taking into account the vehicle selling price and the subscription packages, drivers will enjoy a more affordable driving alternative compared to the cost of petrol-based cars and fuel, depending on make and model of the car and driving usage. Importantly, drivers gain the added benefit of locking in a fixed price for mobility services without the volatility risk associated with the price of oil and without sacrificing range.

A key milestone for Renault and Better Place

"Today marks an important step forward for Better Place in our preparations to commercially launch our full solution in Denmark later this year," said Shai Agassi, Founder and CEO, Better Place. "With our partners Renault and DONG Energy, we are delivering on our promise to offer a more sustainable, convenient and affordable mobility solution that will help drivers avoid the pump at a time when petrol prices are at an all-time high. It's an exciting time for Better Place in Denmark with our new center, our new CEO, Johnny Hansen, our first ever price and package, the first batch of Renault Fluence Z.E. cars, and our new development agreement with Renault."

"Today is a great day for Renault," said Philippe Klein, EVP, Planning and Programmes at Renault. "Renault, within the Alliance, aims to lead the car industry in Europe for zero emission mobility, thanks to a whole line up of four electric vehicles that will be marketed from fall 2011. Denmark is a very important market for Renault, thanks to strong environmental consciousness and positive public policy in favor of clean vehicles. Fluence Z.E. will be the first electric car with virtually no range limit, thanks to the ability to switch the battery in the Better Place stations. The partnership with Better Place is a great opportunity to offer a breakthrough mobility solution and experience innovative marketing methods. The Renault network will be fully involved in the adventure, as Renault dealers will sell and display the Renault Fluence Z.E., whilst all of them will carry out routine maintenance."

Better Place and partner DONG Energy will work together to leverage Denmark's 20% energy production from wind turbines to power the Better Place network to charge the Renault Fluence Z.E. At scale, batteries in electric cars and in battery switch stations serve as a distributed energy storage network, allowing utilities to harness additional sources of renewable energy including wind. By bringing more sources of renewable energy on line, utilities use less fossil fuel-based power generation, enabling the de-carbonization of the grid – a key policy objective for European Union Member States.

Innovative marketing approach and reassurance through country coverage

The official opening of the Better Place Center in Copenhagen marks a major milestone for Better Place and Renault, which share a vision for a new retail experience exclusively for electric car drivers.

The Better Place Center reflects an entirely new approach to selling electric cars and mobility services. Visitors will be able to learn more about the Better Place solution and the benefits of electric cars and experience the thrill of driving Renault's Fluence Z.E. The center will feature models of the Renault Fluence Z.E. so that visitors can enjoy a personal electric car driving experience through the streets of Copenhagen.

The tour of the Center is available to groups and individuals from both Denmark and abroad, beginning March 5, 2011.

Renault will not only sell and maintain the Fluence Z.E in its network in Denmark but will also be present inside the Better Place center with a dedicated Renault team that will present the Fluence Z.E. and be able to take orders. All dealers will be entitled to take orders and carry out the scheduled maintenance on the Renault Fluence Z.E. Additionally, 16 electric vehicle (EV) test drive centers and 12 EV expert centers will be set up within the Renault network in Denmark. In addition, customers will benefit from all the Renault services, as road side assistance, maintenance contract and replacement car.

About Better Place

Better Place, the leading electric vehicle services provider, is accelerating the global transition to sustainable transportation. Better Place is building the infrastructure and intelligent network to deliver a range of services to drivers, enable widespread adoption of electric vehicles, and optimize energy use. The Better Place network addresses historical limitations to adoption by providing unlimited driving range in a convenient and accessible manner. The company works with all parts of the transportation ecosystem, including automakers, battery suppliers, energy companies, and the public sector, to create a compelling solution. Based in California and privately held, Better Place has operating companies in Israel, Denmark, and Australia. More information is available at http://www.betterplace.com.

About Renault

With its partner Nissan, Renault aims to become the leader in zero-emission in use mobility, namely the first car manufacturer to sell a complete range of electric passenger cars and light commercial vehicles at an affordable price for the greatest number. This year will be a decisive chapter in Renault history with the launch of three electric models, Fluence Z.E., Kangoo Z.E. and Twizy, followed by ZOE in 2012.

The Renault group, with more than 350 industrial and commercial sites in 118 countries, designs, develops, manufactures and sells a broad range of innovative, safe and environmentally respectful vehicles. Renault pursues its strategy of profitable growth under the Renault, Dacia and Renault Samsung Motors brands. The Renault group employs 121 000 people worldwide, reported a net revenue of €38,971 million and has sold more than 2.6 million vehicles in 2010.

Australian Automotive Manufacturing Industry Collaborates on Electric Vehicles

PRESS RELEASE

Melbourne, Australia, 18th February 2011 – Industry leaders in the Australian automotive manufacturing industry came together today to announce the launch of EV Engineering Limited.
EV Engineering Limited will design and engineer seven ‘proof of concept’ fully-electric versions of Australia’s number one selling passenger vehicle, the Holden Commodore. This project will take place over a 15 month period.

The ‘proof of concept’ vehicles will be powered by renewable energy using standard electric vehicle plug-in and battery switching infrastructure. They will be used to investigate technical viability and attractiveness to customers so that consideration for mass production can be undertaken.

Consistent with the direction of the Automotive Australia 2020 roadmap, EV Engineering Limited represents the first industry collaboration on large, powerful, zero-emissions vehicles. EV Engineering Limited brings together major automotive components suppliers Air International, Bosch, Continental and Futuris, electric vehicle infrastructure and services provider Better Place, with the support of Holden and the CSIRO.

According to the chairman of EV Engineering Limited and former President and CEO of Mitsubishi Australia, Robert McEniry, electric vehicles represent an exciting opportunity and important part of the future of the Australian car manufacturing industry.

“This collaboration is evidence that the local manufacturing and automotive industries have recognised the important role these vehicles will play in their future,” Mr McEniry said.
“EV Engineering Limited builds on the existing strengths of the industry in large sized passenger vehicles for both domestic and export markets. This initiative will strengthen the local capabilities and give Australia the opportunity to lead the world in the development of large, powerful, zero-emissions vehicles, and ensure we remain globally competitive in this sustainable, high growth market.”

Members of EV Engineering Limited are backing the project with financial and in-kind contributions and substantial access to IP, and engineering support. Funding of $3.5M to be allocated to engineering costs, will be provided from the Australian Government’s Green Car Innovation Fund (GCIF).

Gavin Smith, Regional President of Powertrain and Chassis Systems Control at Bosch Australia said of the partnership, “This project will help develop electric vehicle engineering skills, capabilities and components within the Australian supplier industry.

“By their involvement, each of the partners makes a clear statement. They believe there is a place for the Australian industry to participate in the exciting new developments surrounding the electrification of the motor vehicle. By developing the skills and capability here, the partners will be in a good position to exploit opportunities as vehicle manufacturers further extend their portfolio of electric vehicles.”

Tokyo's Electric Taxi Experiment to Use Swappable Batteries ala Better Place

Yoshihiko Takahashi chuckles politely when asked if he is weary of having the same conversation with passengers every day as he shuttles them around Tokyo in his white and blue all-electric taxi.

How often do you have to recharge? How far can you go? Does this car really have no emissions?

Those are just some of the queries he has grown used to during his 90-day trial use of three zero-emission taxis, and a designated battery-switch station in the first undertaking of its kind in the world.

"For most people, it's their first time riding an electric car," Takahashi said. "I don't mind the questions."

Conceived by California-based Better Place, a global provider of electric vehicles, and operated in partnership with the Japanese government and Nihon Kotsu, Tokyo's biggest taxi operator, the pilot program aims to test the feasibility of all-electric cabs using switchable battery technology as a way to reduce emissions and fuel consumption.

After a successful first run, the program entered a second stage this month to further evaluate battery performance, driver behavior, and other metrics.

If all goes well, Better Place hopes to convince a carmaker to mass-produce exchangeable-battery taxis for Japan's capital.
The current test vehicles are converted Nissan Dualis SUVs, called Qashqai in some markets. Nissan is not involved in the scheme directly: an outside company has re-engineered the cars with batteries provided by U.S.-based A123 Systems.

Better Place estimates that Tokyo's 60,000 taxis account for just 2 percent of vehicles on the road but are responsible for 20 percent of vehicle emissions. Moving those taxis to battery power will help the environment and might encourage the spread of electric cars to regular consumers, Better Place Japan President Kiyotaka Fujii says.

"Taxis have a touch point for consumers," he told Reuters. "Trucks don't induce a person's purchase decision. Taxis do. Once they catch on, I think it'll be quick."

So far, the reaction from passengers has been encouraging.

Of the 700 responses collected from in-car surveys in the three months to July, 97 percent rated their experience as positive. When asked whether they would prefer riding in an all-electric taxi over a conventional one, 70 percent of passengers said they would, while 80 percent said they wanted all taxis in Tokyo to become electric, according to Better Place.

Takahashi, one of eight Nihon Kotsu drivers behind the wheel of the electric taxis, is also content with his ride. While the electric taxi's maximum range of just 62 miles on a full charge means it requires four or five battery swaps every shift, Takahashi said that hasn't stopped him from taking on as many passengers as he would in a normal taxi -- about 22 or 23 a day on average.

"The car handles really well. It's extremely smooth -- much more so than the Prius that I normally drive," he said, referring to Toyota Motor Corp.'s hybrid, a popular choice these days for the city's taxis.

Source: Autonews

Better Place Opens EV Demonstration Center in Israel

Better Place Battery Swapping Demo Housed In An Oil Tank

Better Place, the California startup that last month obtained $350 million in funding to help launch a network of battery-switching stations for electric vehicles in Israel and Denmark starting next year, will open a demonstration center in Israel this week that gives visitors a chance to see how battery-switching stations work and to test drive electric cars around a one-mile track.

Better Place, which promotes the idea battery swapping as a solution to EV-range issues, also said Motorola and Computer Associates are among a group of 92 companies that will exchange a portion of their Israeli gas-powered corporate fleets for Renault EVs starting next year.

Better Place also plans to deploy switching stations at Dor Alon gas stations in Israel, the company said in a statement late last week.

Better Place, founded by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Shai Agassi, promotes the idea that owners of plug-in electric vehicles should be able to lease charged batteries so they don't have to purchase the costly battery packs that propel their vehicles. Such packs can cost tens of thousands of dollars apiece.

Like cell-phone buyers who buy minutes of air time in prepaid monthly or annual packages tailored to fit their individual needs, Better Place customers would buy an electric-drive car and then purchase miles, in the form of kilowatt-hours of energy stored in battery packs that Better Place would supply.

The company got a big boost last month when it raised $350 million in a funding round that was led by London-based investment banker HSBC and included Lazard Asset Management and Morgan Stanley Investment Management.

Better Place, which has been in business for less than three years, has raised almost $800 million in funding and, with HSBC taking a 10 percent stake in the company, the company is valued at $1.25 billion.

As a symbolic gesture, Better Place's new demonstration center, which is about 10 miles north of central Tel Aviv, is constructed inside an old oil tank located in one of Israel's last remaining gasoline storage and distribution facilities.

Better Place, whose center's test track will initially accommodate demonstrations of converted Renault Lagunas, estimates that "tens of thousands" of people will visit the new facility this year.

While from the outside of the facility looks like a big concrete drum, on the inside the visitor center is very futuristic. The center includes a specially designed auditorium and an interactive information center in addition to the short driving course.

Upon entering the center, guests will be shown into a 30-seat auditorium with individual screens. The visitors will be shown a video describing the problems inherent to an automobile market based on fossil fuels and the solution that Better Place offers.

Following the screening, visitors will be invited to test-drive an EV in the company of a Better Place employee.

The cars themselves are modified Renault Lagunas and they were brought in from France, together with the French technicians, in time for the launch of the center.

In the future the center will feature Renault's Fluence ZE models, which may well be the first mass-produced electric cars.

Last May, Better Place had its first-ever public demonstration of a battery-switching station in Yokohama, Japan, saying at the time that a customer would be able to exchange batteries at a station in less than a minute.

Agassi estimated that it would take $500,000 - or about half the cost of a new gas station - to build and stock one battery-switching station, and that such cities as Los Angeles and Tokyo would need about 100 locations.

Source: Edmunds.com:

Better Place Marching Forward With Their Battery Swapping Technology

Israeli Better Place Charging Station










Better Place will make their vision a reality. They have now signed a gasoline station chain in Israel to join them in providing battery swapping stations.

From Green Car Congress:

Better Place announced the grand opening of the company’s first electric vehicle (EV) battery switch demonstration center in Israel. (Earlier post.)

The company marked the occasion by announcing the signing of 92 corporate fleet owners to date as well as a partnership with Dor Alon, one of Israel’s leading gas station operators, for the deployment of battery switch stations at Dor Alon’s facilities. Leading companies including Computer Associates and Motorola now join the ranks of 92 Better Place Vision Partners that have agreed to convert a portion of more than 45,000 internal combustion engine cars to electric vehicles from Renault when commercially available in 2011.

The Center, which includes 1 1.5-km test track is open to the public to come and familiarize themselves with all aspects of the Better Place solution: a fully electric, battery-powered car; an infrastructure that includes charge spots and a battery switch station; and a suite of in-car services designed to provide drivers with the best possible EV driving experience. In the near future, the Better Place Center will have the Renault Fluence ZE for demonstrations, which will be available in Israel in 2011.

The Better Place Center is built on the Pi Glilot site—one of the last gasoline storage and distribution centers remaining in Israel. The Better Place Center will be open to the general public beginning 14 Feb.

An Electric Car For Less Than $20,000?

Do electric cars need an MSRP of less than $20,000 in order to become feasible in the marketplace? Project Better Place is banking on it and they feel they have the winning formula.

From Gas2.0:

Financially speaking, electric cars are a tough sell in today’s economic climate. The handful of pure-electric cars for sale right now, like the Tesla Roadster, cost more than most people gross in two years of work. Even when you apply generous federal and state tax incentives, like those in Colorado, most of us simply can’t afford an electric car right now. With time, prices will come down, but how long must we wait for an affordable electric car that actually looks like a car?

If Better Place’s plan works, a true electric car could hit the West Coast of the U.S. as soon as 2012 for $20,000 or less before any tax incentives are applied.

Better Place has a simple plan; sell the consumer a car, but keep the battery. Batteries are the Achilles heel of electric cars right now. They cost a lot of money, take a long time to charge (compared with filling a gas tank), and they are expensive. By removing the cost of the battery from the equation, Better Place believes they can sell EVs for $20,000 or less.

From there, Better Place assumes the role of your mileage dealer via a network of home charging stations and robotic battery swapping stations. You pay Better Place for the electricity to charge your car, simple as that. Your car purchase comes with a contract, and Better Place takes care of the battery. This isn’t unlike the suggestion that Nissan (which is currently allied with Renault) may lease out the battery on their compact LEAF all-electric car, due out sometime in the next year. Interestingly, Nissan-Renault’s global EV chief recently remarked to Gas 2.0 that battery swapping will likely not work in the United States.

Better Place already has contracts in place in both Denmark and Israel to provide 100,000 electric cars, and has since installed 1,000 EV charging stations around Israel and 100 in the Danish capital of Copenhagen. Next year, they will install the first battery-swapping station in Tokyo to test the feasibility of their swapping concept. If Better Place is to actually continue a relationship with the Renault-Nissan Alliance in the US, the Nissan part of that partnership would have to use the technology developed for Renault in other countries.

Personally, I like the idea of owning every part of my car, and the idea of being under contract to my car dealer isn’t all that appealing. Such a contract would no doubt carry stipulations and dozens of ways to void your warranty, and what happens if Better Place’s plan doesn’t quite work out? Are you left with a $20,000 paper weight?

Renault Opens Up Their New EV Website

A Renault EV Prototype


Open for business is Renault's new website touting four new electric vehicles that will arrive in 898 days. That is an awful long time and is the first quarter of 2012 to be more precise. Will they be too late to the party?

Apparently, one of the reasons this will take so long is the installation of the battery swapping stations that Better Place is trying to commercialize. Will this approach work? It seems like a great idea on the surface of it, but how practical will this be? What if there are 10 cars that need their battery swapped and only five ready in the station? Many questions remain for Renault, but they have apparently given themselves a long time to answer them.

Renault's new website can be found here.

Better Place Battery Swap Video

Here is a cool video produced by Better Place that demonstrates their battery pack swapping station.