Better Place and Haifa cooperate on electric car infrastructure

Every new building to be built in Haifa, Israel's third largest city, must include infrastructure compatible with charge spots for electric cars, according to a memorandum of understanding between Better Place and the Municipality of Haifa.

The document was signed by Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav and Better Place Israel CEO Moshe Kaplinsky, according to a March report by Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahranot.


According to the agreement, Haifa will also conduct a three-year pilot study to examine the feasibility of using electric cars and will allow Better Place to build exchange stations and charge spots throughout the city.

"Local authorities' heads are showing much interest in taking part in the electric car project in order to improve the quality of life of their residents," Kaplinsky said last month.

"Mayors understand the need to prepare for the coming of the electric car and to lay out an infrastructure that will, for the first time, allow fast, convenient and available charging. Better Place has already set up 400 charging stations in various cities."

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Better Place partners with 19 Israeli companies

Better Place announced that it has signed cooperation agreements with 19 Israeli companies to test the suitability of its electric vehicles for these companies fleets.

In this first stage of Better Place's plant to build a nationwide infrastructure for electric vehicles, Better Place will design charge spots for the companies' electric cars and install them at the companies' parking lots and employees' homes. It will also work with the companies' managers and employees in the design and deployment of the infrastructure in order to optimize and customize them to the needs of each company.



Moshe Kaplinsky, CEO of Better Place Israel, said, "Leading Israeli companies understand the strategic importance of meeting one of the greatest challenges now facing us: our dependence on oil and its effect on our economy, environment, and security. "

Better Place CEO Shai Agassi added, "We are today seeing the certification that there is real market demand for electric cars that will use Better Place's grid. We expect demand to grow as Israeli companies join in the vision, as well as in other countries, which together represent a potential global market of 50 million cars. We see today the tip of the iceberg of global demand."

The participating companies are from the hi-tech, pharmaceuticals, finance and manufacturing sectors. They include Israel Corp, which has invested over $100 million in Better Place, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Pelephone Communications Ltd., Partner Communications Ltd., Matrix IT Ltd., Direct Insurance - Financial Investments Ltd., Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Netafim Ltd., Keter Plastics Ltd., Orbotech Ltd., juice maker Jafora Tabori Ltd., Manpower Israel Ltd., SQlink Ltd., Nike Israel Ltd., and Glasshouse Technologies Ltd.

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IDF considers Better Place infrastructure and electric troop carriers

Better Place appoints Israel CEO, declares Israel as primary R&D center

IDF considers Better Place infrastructure and electric troop carriers

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is considering developing a quiet electric vehicle for carrying troops and cargo, according to a report in Globes. The vehicle will reportedly have a diesel or gasoline engine to extend its range when the batteries run out.

Elbit Systems Ltd., which has experience building electric motors for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), is apparently a leading contender to develop and supply the electric vehicle.

Globes also reports that the Ministry of Defence is considering installing Better Place's recharging infrastructure at IDF bases, which could be used for the fleet of electric military vehicles, as well as for civilian electric cars when they become available. In March 2008, Better Place named Major General Moshe Kaplinsky, former Deputy Chief of Staff of the IDF, as the CEO of Better Place Israel.

As reported on this blog last year, the IDF already plans to install thousands of Traffilog systems to improve fuel efficiency in its fleet of vehicles.

Last month, the U.S. Army announced plans to lease 4,000 non-tactical electric vehicles for use on Army bases for passenger transport, security patrol, and maintenance and delivery services. In 2007, the U.S. Army awarded a contract for development of a diesel hybrid electric vehicle called the Quantum Alternative Mobility Vehicle (AMV) Aggressor.

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Project Better Place appoints Israel CEO, declares Israel as primary R&D center

Project Better Place, in a new press release, named Major General Moshe Kaplinsky as CEO of Better Place Israel, where he will lead the world’s first build out of an electric recharge grid network infrastructure for electric vehicles. Better Place also established Tel Aviv as its primary research and development center to help develop the technology roadmap for mass deployment of electric vehicles.

“I am thrilled that Moshe Kaplinsky has accepted the position as CEO of Better Place Israel,” said Shai Agassi, CEO, Better Place. “I’m equally thrilled that Israel will be our primary base for technology innovation due to its engineering prowess. I see enormous strength in our ability to work across borders and tap into great talent pools in the US, Israel and elsewhere as we expand our global footprint. This group will architect the blueprint for others to follow.”

As part of the news, Better Place also named three partners:

• strategic design firm NewDealDesign of San Francisco will develop the industrial design for the charging stations and other consumer touch points for the grid; and
• Israel-based Aran Research and Development Ltd. and Nekuda DM Ltd. will develop and install the electric vehicle recharging stations in Israel.

“With the partners announced today, we will be sharply focused on executing against the vision set forth in January to move Israel off of oil within ten years,” said Kaplinsky. “This is the first step toward implementation of our operational plan for Better Place Israel.”

In January, Better Place announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Renault-Nissan to build the world's first Electric Recharge Grid Operator (ERGO) model for clean transportation in Israel

Before joining Better Place Israel, Kaplinsky most recently served as deputy chief of staff of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Kaplinsky is a graduate of the advanced field officers course in the United States, has a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Business from Bar Ilan University and a Master's of Business Administration degree with honors from Tel Aviv University. He will report to Agassi.

Better Place Israel is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Project Better Place.

Project Better Place update

Project Better Place has been quietly making news in recent weeks following the excitement surrounding its January press conference in Israel. Shai Agassi, however, predicts a deal between the company and a national government "within 100 days”. Perhaps we should be bracing for another major announcement from Agassi and Better Place.

Shai Agassi profiled in the Economist. Is Japan next?

Shai Agassi was interviewed by the Economist for an article detailing the trend of executives switching from the computer industry to cleantech companies. He is featured alongside Elon Musk of Tesla Motors and Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures. The article discloses that "having bonded successfully with Shimon Peres and Ehud Olmert in Israel, Mr Agassi confidently predicts another deal between Better Place and a national government 'within 100 days'."

Might Japan be the next country to sign an agreement with Project Better Place? Shai Agassi was in Japan at the end of February, alongside Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and spoke at a business forum intended to build contacts between Israeli and Japanese executives.

Two Israeli partners selected to implement electric recharge grid

Electric car venture Project Better Place has picked two Israeli companies to develop and install car recharging stations in Israel: Aran Research and Development Ltd. and Nekuda DM Ltd.

Aran R&D and Nekuda DM are industrial engineering design companies with experience in product development and electromechanical design. The car recharging infrastructure will involve 500,000 recharging points to be built across the country in the coming years.

Project Better Place Israel CEO Moshe Kapliski said, "Testing of the charging points will begin this year, and hundreds of stations are planned for installation during 2009.

Chief Scientist ready to pay electric car companies

"Globes" reports that the Office of the Chief Scientist has published a call for proposals to collaborate with Renault SA under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor's cooperation program with multinationals. Companies deemed suitable to collaborate with Renault will receive Chief Scientist grants covering up to half the R&D budget for an approved project. Renault will provide matching aid, as well as technological advice, applications tests, use of the company's laboratories, and other services.

The call for proposals is targeting companies that are developing technologies and applications for improving the performance of electric car engines, energy efficient car air conditioners, rapid battery recharging and replacement systems, longer life batteries, and other fields.