Comments on: U.S., Japanese Auto Stocks Sink, Recession Looms Large

By: Donal

Donal — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:35:38 +0000

OK, here’s a more likely scenario:

Automaker Renault-Nissan will manufacture the cars and Better Place, a California start-up founded by former SAP executive Shai Agassi, will build the infrastructure, which may eventually consist of 500,000 charging points and up to 200 battery-exchange stations.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1705518,00.html

I guess the charging points would be in parking lots and home garages.

By: yankinwaoz

yankinwaoz — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:40:53 +0000

500,000 electric service stations in the country

Perhaps every power outlet in Israel is considered an “Electrical Service Station”? I can count 6 in this room I’m sitting in now.

By: GS650G

GS650G — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:34:23 +0000

Although I think we are going to be using oil for 100 more years at least, it would be fun to watch alternative means of power be developed. This is what OPEC was afraid would happen if oil took off in price, and once alternatives are found there will be no going back.

By: 50merc

50merc — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:28:21 +0000

Donal, if Renault-Nissan hopes to sell lots of electric cars in Israel, more power to ‘em. But surely the article’s reference to building “500,000 electric service stations in the country” is incorrect. Israel’s population is about 6.5 million, with under 3 million in the labor force. That would mean about a half-dozen workers per electric service station. The country’s land area is 20,330 square kilometers. That would mean about 25 electric service stations per square kilometer (or about 65 per square mile).

By: Glenn Swanson

Glenn Swanson — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:27:16 +0000

Nissan…wants to start to put out fully electric cars by 2011 or 2012.

To compete with the Volt? ;-)

By: Donal

Donal — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:06:10 +0000

Speaking of emerging markets:

Renault-Nissan, the government of Israel, and an electric charging station start-up founded by Shai Agassi are mounting an effort to make electric cars part of ordinary life in Israel in the next decade.

Project Better Place, Agassi’s organization, will try to build 500,000 electric service stations in the country, according to the organization. At these stations, attendants will swap out depleted batteries and put in fully charged ones. This saves the several hours typically required to charge a lithium-ion battery pack made for cars. (You can also charge the batteries at home.) Renault-Nissan, meanwhile, will ship electric cars to the country in three years or so. Ultimately, the company hopes to ship 10,000 to 20,000 a year.

http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9854591-54.html?tag=nefd.top

Among large car makers, Renault-Nissan is one of the more aggressive when it comes to fully electric cars. At Tokyo’s Ceatec conference in October, Nissan execs told CNET News.com that the company wants to start to put out fully electric cars by 2011 or 2012.

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9790232-7.html