Comments on: Better Place Electric Car Spotting

By: David Rose

David Rose — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 07:04:59 +0000

At every Switching Station there is a compressor to check tire pressure just like at every gas station. During one of my switches at Hadera, the attendant there even offered to check the tire pressure for us. It is important to note that the tire (tyre) pressure in the Fluence ZE is higher (38 bar) than I was used to in an ICE car (32 bar). I think it has to do with the weight of the battery, but you should have no trouble checking pressure during your next switch. BTW 7 minutes includes all the “chit – chat”. My switches (all 7 until now) took no more than 5 minutes, max!

By: Smiles

Smiles — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 06:39:07 +0000

BSD
We did our first battery switch last night. Baruch Hashem, it took 7 minutes total. Moshe the attendant even spoke english. When he said go to the orange cone in Hebrew , He saw that I didnt understand , so he went into perfect English.
The question for David rose is where do you go to check pressure on your tires and to put air in them?
Maybe there is a a gadget to buy somewhere so we never have to go to gas station?
F

By: David Rose

David Rose — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:41:42 +0000

Although you used my name, some of the facts were not as they should be. I was interviewed not by Channel 10, but the HOT news channel. I actually average more than the 80 – 100 km that you mentioned, it is more like an average of 125 km. By October of this year, the entire Better Place Battery Switching Station network will be in operation from Katrin in the Golan to Eilat in the south. You misrepresented the monthly subscription fee. It has nothing to do with my electrical use, rather it reflects the monthly fee subscription fee for a 30K Km x 4 year subscription fee. This means that over the next 4 years I will drive 120K Km at a cost of 0.44NIS per Km ($0.11 per 0.621 mile). In fact because of this agreement and the Better Place pricing method, I will not be subject to electricity cost increases over the period of the agreement. By skipping the part about battery switching you skipped the most innovative part. Since May 21, 2012 I have switched batteries 7 times. On June 5, 2012 an announcement was made by Better Place to its customers that the first 4 of 40 Battery Switching Stations will be open on a 24/7 basis. This innovation rids any fear of range anxiety or charge anxiety from the EV driving experience, and makes it similar, calmer and better than driving an ICE car. You can be sure that Better Place will succeed in Israel. I and like-minded pioneers will see to it happening!

By: shai

shai — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 05:12:42 +0000

Just wanted to correct a small misconception inyour post….
The subscription fee mentioned (1000NIS) includes the home electricity charge, which we at Better Place pay instead of the customer. Our members aer not exposed to fluctuations in electricity cost simply because they don’t pay for electricity. They are not exposed to oil price changes…simply because they left that habit behind while saving tons of money and pollution.
With more than 300 cars on the road, you should get used to spotting electric cars all over the country (…and someone did get to Eilat tis week 🙂

By: Amir

Amir — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:06:56 +0000

Maurice, You’re going to see a lot more EVs in the coming weeks in Israel including in the periphery. Also, the monthly cost is not only for electricity. It includes the infrastructure, battery lease and electricity. Electricity is probably the least of the three costs. Once the infrastructure is set up, the marginal cost for each additional car is low, battery prices have dropped by 10-14% every year and are expected to fall some more so even if the electricity rises, there is not likely to be an increase in the cost of the subscription. Also, many customers such as myself bought a mileage package at a discount which guarantees no cost increase in the near future.

By: Smiles

Smiles — Thu, 31 May 2012 07:52:31 +0000

Yes they installed a post. They actually installed one , then switched it once then switched it again! The post works great . Send me your email and I will invite you to ramat bet Shemesh to see it. I don’t know of any open battery switch stations. It takes me 60 to 70 per net of battery to go
Round trip bet Shemesh to jerusalem.
I would like to know where the 4 switch open stations are. We have 500 km
On car so far
ברכה. והצלחה

By: Maurice

Maurice — Thu, 31 May 2012 05:39:01 +0000

Hey that’s great to hear! Just out of curiosity, when you bought the car, and the monthly Better Place service agreement, did they come out and install a charging post at your home? Also, when you drive to either Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, are there recharging and battery pack replacement stations already in place (besides the BP main location at Pi Glilot)?

By: Smiles

Smiles — Wed, 30 May 2012 21:03:35 +0000

We have a fluence ez. Put 400 km on it so far in a week. Live in ramat bet shemesh. It works so far so good. More pickup than Toyota corolla

By: SWP MEDIA

SWP MEDIA — Wed, 30 May 2012 20:35:01 +0000

Really great article! Electric car inspiration! Have you heard what they are saying about the future of the Chevy Volt & Nissan Leaf?
http://tinyurl.com/75zjtmz