The B2B platform for full-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles: Events News

Update: Video Interview on Business Week with Shai Agassi, founder and CEO of Better Place. The first press day at Europe’s leading auto show proved how topical electric vehicles have become for some while a majority of carmakers again completely ignored the trend towards zero-emission vehicles. Renault and service partner Better Place seemed decided to outcompete all others by presenting four EV models and a new services platform in Frankfurt. cars21.com reports live. 

At the International Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany, several press conferences were dominated by a focus on electric mobility. However, while some carmakers build on zero-emission vehicles and innovative battery charging solutions to fortify their future concept of sustainable mobility, a huge majority of manufacturers again neglected the trend towards petrol-free vehicles.

Renault: Carlos Goshn highlighted in a press conference this morning how Renault is set to become a “pioneer of sustainable drive” by exclusively focusing on electric mobility. Hailed as the breakthrough solution enabling sustainable mobility for all at affordable cost, Renault unveiled four cars, out of which three will be available from 2011 on: a compact van for fleets and business customers with 70 kW drivetrain (Kangoo Z.E. Concept), a family car with a roof optimising the climate to extend the drive range (Zoe Z.E. Concept), a limousine with 160 km driving range (Fluence Z.E. Concept) and a small city car in tandem style with a 15 kW electric drivetrain (Twizy Z.E. Concept). These will be followed by a five-seater compact car in 2012. The EV line-up will then be extended to cover all vehicle segments. To effectively roll-out all models, Renault has invested in a new automotive business model where consumers will buy their car and take out an energy subscription including the battery rental. The electric vehicle will retail at the same price as an equivalent diesel, while the running costs would be lower than an equivalent internal combustion model. Renault and Nissan are now working together with governments and businesses to mass market a complete range of electric vehicles by 2012. The Alliance has already signed nearly 30 agreements with partners worldwide. Three different charging solutions for batteries – ranging from 3 hours to 8 hours and a fast charging system that recharges the battery to 80% in just 30 minutes, as well as the battery switch system “Quickdrop” – where presented at the IAA, with the latter live performing on the floor.

Better Place: TheCalifornia-based electric vehicles service provider, that has already started building battery charging infrastructures in Israel, Denmark, and Australia, debuts an EV Services Platform at the Frankfurt Motor show. In conjunction with Renault’s unveiling of the world’s first switchable battery EV for Israel and Denmark, Better Places announced a newly expanded agreement with the French carmaker, committing both companies to a volume of at least 100,000 electric cars in both countries by 2016. Better Place also named additional ecosystem partners, including Continental of Germany, Intel, Microsoft, and TÜV Rheinland, to scale up global production of its EV services platform and infrastructure deployment. Next year will be the first year when a wave of electric cars hit the streets. Better Place showcased its EV services platform, which manages at scale the charging of EVs and the impact on the grid. Inside the car, the solution manages the vehicle’s energy plan through an on-board computing platform, codenamed “AutOS”.