Monthly Fee May Pave Way for Electric Car Boom

Developer strikes deals with countries, cities for broad charging infrastructure

By Michael Roston, Newser User

Posted Dec 24, 2008 8:05 PM CST

(Newser) – An Israeli entrepreneur bets you’ll be willing to pay to fuel up your car like you pay your monthly cell phone bill. If Shai Agassi is right, Jim Motavalli writes in Yale Environment 360, it could be the charge electric cars need to succeed. Partnering with nations, cities, and automakers, his Better Place is trying to establish infrastructure for an electric-powered automotive future.

Agassi envisions a network of charging stations in congested areas, and ones that allow you to trade in depleted batteries on long trips—though current batteries are large and difficult to swap. And for his concept to work, he’ll need to raise a lot of money—$1 billion alone for a proposed charging network in the San Francisco Bay area.

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Nissan Motor Co.'s electric car EV-01, foreground, and hybrid car are seen at the automaker's test course near Tokyo, Aug. 6, 2008. (AP Photo)

An electric Smart car is displayed at October's Paris Auto Show. (AP Photo)

A Tesla Roadster is charged with a special 220-volt, 70-amp charger system at a showroom in Menlo Park, Calif. (AP Photo)

Steve Bernheim shows off his Corbin Sparrow fully electric auto in the driveway of his home in Edmonds, Wash., Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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What we’re doing is taking a bet on the future, the idea that electric vehicles will replace fossil-fuel cars and trucks on the road. - Nathan Ballard, spokesman for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom

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Monthly Fee May Pave Way for Electric Car Boom