Project Better Place

[brianoflondon]

My point is that while BP is no alternative for you and me, I think there is a market for EV's for people who will not have easy access to chargers.

Just one point is worth making again: Better Place insist on the ability to home charge overnight. They just won't sell a car to street parking Tel Aviv residents at the moment. Battery switches are not seen as a normal way to get energy into the car: they are supplemental only on longer trips away from home.

 

[brianoflondon]

Full post up on the twitter exploits of Shai Agassi yesterday driving a complete circuit of Israel. He drove the equivalent of North to South of California in an EV with a battery half the size of the smallest Tesla S.


Better Place Distance Dash

 

[rolosrevenge]

Very impressive. Now if you can get swap two swap stations in between Redmond and my parents house in Ephrata, and a BP car in the same segment as the A6 I currently drive, I'd seriously consider doing it.

 

[mgemmell]

Just read that BP is setting up in the EU. Now if the Model S could use this switch stations that would be one excellent way to make the Copenhagen - Paris trip they mention. 1200kms in one day through 4 countries and probably in a single day (two or three swaps?).

I wonder what the next BP compatible car will be.

 

[Kevin Sharpe]

Just read that BP is setting up in the EU.

with 40 million euro ($50 million) I could setup a charging infrastructure across europe that any EV could use and probably have enough change to do something serious in the US as well :crying:

 

[brianoflondon]

It's a loan, got to make the payments on it. That's a lot of pund coins in the payment meters.

 

[Kevin Sharpe]

It's a loan, got to make the payments on it. That's a lot of pund coins in the payment meters.

so spend the money on a network that everyone can use not some closed and proprietary system...

 

[dpeilow]

It's an EIB loan - nothing to stop you or anyone going to them with a business case for conventional charging.

If the EIB is handing out €40m in the present climate, they must see something viable in BP's plan.

 

[brianoflondon]

I've just posted a short video on my blog showing how the navigation system (named Oscar) in the Better Place car plans routes to accommodate battery switches. It might be of interest here

How Can I Drive To Eilat?

 

[mgemmell]

I expected it to do that, but it is neat to see it in operation. Thanks.

I just saw that BP are starting a full scale network in NL now. Hope Spain happens soon

100M€ is indeed a large amount of money, and clearly Keith knows what he is saying when he says he can set up an EU-wide charging network for half that, but if people are willing to finance this it must either make financial sense or is being sold very well by Mr Agassi. Like David says, if it makes business sense then the charging network should make even more sense.

 

[brianoflondon]

My latest piece is up at Green Car Reports. 100 days with my EV including Likes and Dislikes (yes I have some).

My post at Israellycool also includes live graphs showing my daily drive distribution. I never really paid attention to this but my pattern is absolutely perfect for my EV. If anything I'm driving more than I was before because now that I've pre-paid I want to use all my kms!

 

[JRP3]

Another unintended negative of the BP model, encouraging unnecessary driving.

 

[brianoflondon]

Another unintended negative of the BP model, encouraging unnecessary driving.

Wow, best you can think of?

No, displacement from other cars especially small local deliveries in place of my company's 6 year old diesel delivery van when moving 10 laptops or similar. I'd say big win. Also much lower use of wife's big 4x4. I've also taken many people to/from Jerusalem barely ever driving that run alone now.

 

[JRP3]

Well you made it sound as if you were joy riding. And no, I've thought of many other negatives :wink:

 

[vfx]

Another unintended negative of the BP model, encouraging unnecessary driving.

I know you are joking but honestly, it's an EV problem.


Too fun!!

 

[brianoflondon]

I know you are joking but honestly, it's an EV problem.


Too fun!!

I will admit to taking the long route home a couple of times... and every now and then I choose the route with the most traffic lights through upscale neighbourhoods so I can have fun embarrassing the BMWs, Mercs and Lexuses (Lexi?) at the lights with my stupid golf cart Renault ;-)

 

[TEG]

Israeli Electric Car Company’s Chief Steps Down - NYTimes.com

...Chief Steps Down at a Company Serving Electric Cars
By BRADLEY BERMAN and ZACH McDONALD
Published: October 2, 2012
Better Place, an electric vehicle infrastructure company, said on Tuesday that it had replaced Shai Agassi, its charismatic chief executive and founder, with Evan Thornley, the company’s top executive in Australia...

 

[TEG]

Victorian takes hot seat at Israeli car company

...The announcement of Mr Agassi's departure fed speculation that the company's widening losses were the cause. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the company has posted $477 million in cumulative losses since the beginning of 2010. The paper reported that Better Place has $181 million in cash reserves, which at the current rate of spending would last 4 1/2 quarters...

 

[vfx]

Tesla, Fisker, now Better Place, The founder CEO revolving door swings again.


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/business/shai-agassi-steps-down-as-chief-of-better-place.html?emc=eta1

 

[brianoflondon]

Israeli Electric Car Company’s Chief Steps Down - NYTimes.com

I've published my longer take on Shai and Better Place. I spoke to the New York Times guys last night.

Shai Agassi Out Of Better Place (Or Is He?) | Israellycool