Project Better Place Looks to Bring Electric Cars to Portugal
by Andrew Posner, Providence, Rhode Island 
on 07.18.08
Electric Cars and Cell Phones
Project Better Place, the initiative founded by entrepreneur Shai Agassi to bring electric cars and charging infrastructure to countries around the world, has already partnered with several countries, including Israel and Denmark. The idea is to make electric cars sell like cell phones, and the plan works as follows: "purchasers get subsidized hardware — the car — and pay a monthly fee for expected mileage, like minutes on a cellphone plan, eliminating concerns about the fluctuating price of gasoline." Renault and Nissan are working on developing the electric cars, and Agassi's firm is developing the batteries and infrastructure.
Drawing Attention, and Skepticism
Apparently Project Better Place is getting the attention of other countries, because the Portuguese government has agreed to "conduct a study to determine what's needed to make electric vehicles attractive to consumers in Portugal. The government will also study the infrastructure and organizations needed to create a countrywide network of charging stations. It will also determine the most effective ways to raise awareness of electric cars." Of course, we've also reported on some of the problems with Agassi's plan, going so far as to call it "Green Smoke and Mirrors." Agassi has made some bold claims--100,000 electric cars in Israel by 2010, for instance--so it'll be interesting to see what transpires. If that isn't enough, 2010 is also the year GM has promised the vaunted Chevy Volt will make its debut, and John McCain has called for a 300 million dollar government sponsored prize for better battery technology. Meanwhile, Al Gore made a bold speech yesterday calling for 100% renewable power for the U.S. within a decade, which, if realized, would allay concerns that electric cars would merely transfer pollution from the tailpipe to the smokestack.
Via: ::GreenBiz.com
More on Project Better Place
Israel Says Shalom to Electric Cars
2010: The Year We Make Electric Contact
Electric Car Plants in Israel?
Are Electric Vehicle Charging Stations on the Way?
More on Electric Cars
17 Electric Cars You Must Know About
Electric Car Revolution Only Three Years Away (Maybe)
Electric Cars and Vehicles: Who Killed 'Em, New Batteries and More
Electric Vehicles: Good for Climate, Bad for Water?
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this is a great idea, I although it will be slow to take off (i think) it should be a great long term deal for Better Place. Good luck to them!
Project better place is demonstrating incredible leadership and has helped push electrification of cars right into the mainstream agenda.
I just don't like the battery swapping and leasing schemes. I want reasonably priced, owner purchased, quick charge batteries with the associated infrastructure. I don't mind paying a moderate premium for electricity from PBP outlets.
When that happens, I'm 100% on board. I don't want oil and gas bondage replaced by battery bondage.