ISRAEL GOES ELECTRIC

GREEN CARS:

WHO NEEDS OIL

WHEN YOU’VE GOT LITHIUM-ION?

On Monday, Israel’s government endorsed an ambitious plan to build the world's first electric car network by 2011. The undertaking could be a bold step in the battle against global warming and energy dependency.

The project is a joint venture between Renault-Nissan, which will provide the electric vehicles, and the Silicon Valley-based startup Project Better Place, which will operate the recharging grid. The replacement and charging of the lithium-ion batteries will work like that of a cell phone battery, with half a million recharging stations to crisscross the tiny country.

The Renault-Nissan cars will have a range of up to 160 kms per charge, and will accelerate from zero to 100 kph in 13 seconds and have a top speed of 110 kph - similar to many gasoline-powered cars. The car will cost the same or less than comparable gasoline engine autos and will have a lifetime warranty. The cars are expected to create 50,000 jobs, and be on the road by 2011.

The idea was perhaps not a hard sell: Israel is a small, oil-poor country surrounded by oil-rich enemies. The average Israeli car owner drives less than 72 kms per day, and Israel’s major cities are less than one battery charge apart, making electric cars a feasible option. By going oil-free, Israel hopes to weaken the political clout of their oil-dependant - and oil-providing - neighbors. Israel currently depends on Russia for much of it’s oil.

This is big news. A giant shoutout to the government of Israel, to Renault-Nissan and Project Better Place, and to everyone involved in getting this historic project off the ground. Good luck to all.

Sources and resources:

1. The Jerusalem Post
2. The New York Times
3. Reuters
4. The Canadian Press
5. The Register