The mobile phone has become a near-essential accessory in recent years. New generations of phones aren’t just capable of making calls either: they are cameras, personal stereos and now, thanks to an American entrepreneur, may be responsible for allowing electric cars to actually become a feasible alternative to fossil-fuel powered transport.
Project Better Place takes the business model of mobile phone operators and, in the same way that wireless operators deploy a network of phone masts to provide an area of mobile phone coverage, the project will establish a network of charging spots and battery exchange stations to provide ubiquitous access to electricity to power electric vehicles.
The intention is that instead of paying up-front a relatively large amount for their car, they will instead pay a smaller amount and then pay a monthly tariff to recharge as and when they need to. According to CEO Shai Agassi, consumers will still own their cars and will have multiple car models to choose from.
The infrastructure will be established in America and other, as yet unannounced, countries over the next two years in a variety of launch markets. The ambitious company reckons that the system will be a completely viable alternative within 10 years.
I wonder how much a Tesla Roadster on contract will cost?
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