Project Better Place - How It Works

What does an electric car infrastructure look like?

The batteries of a zero-emission vehicle need three things in place in for optimum functionality: charging spots, battery switching stations, and software that automates the experience.

The charging spots will keep the batteries topped off with power so that they always have 100 miles of driving capacity. They are located where you work, live, shop and dine in parking lots so that an electric car will have the ability to recharge when the software instructs it to top off.

For trips longer than 100 miles (161 km), battery switching stations will be available roadside. Stations are completely automated, and the driver's subscription takes care of everything. The driver pulls in, and the depleted battery is quickly replaced with a fresh one, without anyone having to leave the vehicle. The process takes less time than it does to fill a tank of liquid fuel.

Because most electric vehicles will be charging during the evenings while at home, the batteries become distributed storage for clean electricity. In Israel, for example, excess power from the growing solar industry will be stored in the cars' batteries.

Similarly, in Denmark, unstored energy from the country's wind turbines will be utilized. Better Place can help each market identify and develop its own "virtual oil fields" of renewable energy.

Due to the open, standards-based approach that Better Place has adopted in the development of its batteries, there will be many manufacturers contributing to the pool of available batteries. This will maintain a steady supply and stable prices as more and more nations join us in our efforts to remake transportation as a sustainable service.

http://www.betterplace.com/

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• electric
• car
• vehicle
• transport
• ev
• project
• better
• place

[Odziz]

Most hydrogen is made from fossil fuels by steam reformation, why do you think the oil companies are so interested. You still need electricity to produce hydrogen, it takes six times the energy you put in to get one unit out.

Yes I know you can produce it from renewables, but your still wasting energy. The whole idea of an alternative is to save energy.

[rhypnotoad]

Hydrogen is a battery

"it takes six times the energy you put in to get one unit out" this is wrong ugh

[Odziz]

No, this is correct. It just shows how inefficient it s to produce hydrogen.

[tenagliac]

Fantastic! This is exactly the picture that was in my mind. And what's strange is that I work for the largest battery maker in the world and I never heard of this. No one I mentioned it to here has. But then again, here is America.

Thanks for the link !

[Odziz]

Well I hope the company you work for gets into to this. Keep the ideas coming!

The first time I saw this idea was from a Japanese company who built the Eliica, I just wish they would put it into production. I want that car!

[Sondre7]

Shai Agassi gives me so much confidence that this project will be a success. I some times find myself astounded at what hes saying, and the next believing it of all of my heart. Just amazing. If anyone in the world could accomplish better places mission, its shai aggasi.

[Traviskolber]

@danndan6 Solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, tidal, and many other renewable resources.

[danndan6]

where does the electricity come from? are all batteries going to be standardized? what about an electric car that charges itself whilst driving? think it's not possible? MAGENTIC SURGE TECHNOLOGY

[Chuqau]

Go Shai Agassi!

Though I must say, this video is something like 18-24 months old now, it looks so retro... the absense of BP logo and colours, the battery size/location, the charging point, the battery being changed while the car is moving.. I guess it was all  just an example at the time. Now all three actually exist (car/charge spot/battery swap station)!! Exciting times ...

[ratryu]

So you like wasting electricity to produce hydrogen to produce electricity?

Doesn't this sound strange to you?

Electricity>Hydrogen>Freezing Hydrogen>Electricity

[ratryu]

How is that wrong?

You use a lot of energy to produce hydrogen. Electrocuting water.

Then you got to spend more energy to compress it or freeze it.

Then you pump it in to the car. And convert that small amount of hydrogen to electricity.

By any definition of efficiency, hydrogen is the exact opposite.

[jondoig]

Independency?