Read the full interview with Better Place

2. So far it is Renault that you are cooperating with, are there any other OEM´s joining in the near future?
Renault has been the first OEM to announce an EV with a switchable battery. The EV is named Fluence ZE and will be sold in Denmark and Israel from mid 2011. Obviously we are in dialogue with most other OEMs to understand their priorities and strategies for the future car market.

3. Regarding the charging of the batteries, how will the consumers pay for the electricity?
Better Place is a subscription based business. We bring together a number of components (facilitate ownership of battery, establish charge spots and give customers access, establish battery switch stations and offer customers the opportunity to switch battery, a comprehensive in car support system, a sophisticated network operations system and provide electricity) and makes it easy for the customer by offering them an easy to understand solution, a model they know from mobile phone companies — we sell kilomtres. As a subscriber you will buy the right to drive a certain amount of kilometers a year, use our infrastructure to charge and switch batteries and use a Better Place owned battery if relevant.

4. If the consumer go from one country to another, how will one pay when charging?
Driving from one country to another is an interesting question — just the fact that it is possed shows that EV´s are now a viable solution for consumers. Activities are ongoing on a international level to ensure standardization of technologies making it possible for consumers to use their vehicles in another country than their origin. Better Place is already in dialogue with other companies looking to develop infrastructure and investigating how the best possible “roaming" solutions can be developed.

5. A commercial launch is planned for Denmark next year, what will happen then?
The managed network of charge spots and battery switch stations will be available to the subscribers. The opening of the network is timed to coincide with the commercial availability of the Renault EV Fluence ZE. The changing of the EVs will be managed in a way that protects the grid from over and aims to maximize the part of energy coming from renewable energy sources to minimize CO2 emission.  

6. What is needed in order for A Better Place to come to Sweden?
Sweden is a logical step for Better Place and we have already had a number of contacts in Sweden and would be keen to move ahead. The core requirements are finding local partners that share the same visions for the market.  Another important point could be local production of vehicles with battery exchange.

7. Where are we in Europe in 5 years regarding the infrastructure for EV cars?
In Better Place we believe that a significant part of the cars transporting us will be EVs in 5 years. For that we will need a well planed, managed and accountable infrastructure build in a way that protects the grid and maximizes the utilization of energy coming from renewable sources. We will build just that.

8. How is the coordination on an European level for the EV car infrastructure?
Both  the EU  and the international standards organizations are currently working to secure standards for EVs, plugs, charging, cables, data communication etc. and also discussing marked models for EV infrastructure.  The EU Commission and EU Council plan to announce an EV Strategy and action plan by the end of May 2010. Better Place is working with all relevant bodies both at an EU level and in relevant local markets.

9. What needs to be done to speed up the process on a political level, national level and international level?
A realization that governments are coming to increasingly, is that an EV is not just a vehicle — but a vehicle for development. Massive adaption of EVs helps reduce CO2 emission, reduce pollution in cities / increase air quality hence reduce health related issue with gasoline and diesel, a significant job creation scheme (car manufacturers, battery manufacturers, service providers etc.) and of course a method to increase energy security/independence of fossil fuels. All in all, many of the things that we need to pull countries and industries out of the crisis they are in.