Tel Aviv commits to electric car infrastructure

"Globes" reports that the Tel Aviv Municipality is joining Shai Agassi's electric car venture, Project Better Place. Deputy Mayor Pe'er Wisner said today that the municipality had undertaken to launch a pilot scheme with charging points for electric cars, whose production has not yet begun, to be set up across the city. Five charging points will be built initially, and once the project is completed there will be 150 points in city car parks, outside public buildings, and on city streets. Under the plan, battery replacement points will be located at the city's entrances.



Wisner said the municipality had begun collaborating with Agassi several months ago, with the aim of ensuring that the city can accommodate the electric cars once production begins in 2009. Wisner called city residents to close their eyes and imagine how quiet the bustling Ibn Gvirol Street would become once electric cars were on the city's streets.

Next week will see a visit by a joint delegation of managers from the Renault-Nissan Alliance, which will announce their companies' contribution to the $200 million project. The delegation is also expected to meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

The electric car project, which Agassi is promoting together with Israel Corp., calls for the setting up of a nationwide network of charging and battery replacement points for the electric car, which is designed to offer a clean alternative to fossil fuel vehicles. According to Agassi, Israel is a suitable location for the pilot since it is a small country with limited transport links to neighboring countries. Tel Aviv is the first city to commit itself to the project and Agassi is holding talks with municipal leaders in other cities about setting up charging points in them as well.