Renault and the U.S.-based group Better Place unveiled plans on Sept. 15 to sell at least 100,000 electric vehicles (EVs) in Israel and Denmark by 2016.
Success would create the first mass market for such vehicles and is based on the family model Fluence, an all electric auto with a range of 160 kilometers (100 miles) presented by Renault at the 63rd Frankfurt motor show.
Better Place, which is developing a support network for EVs, would sell the Fluence ZE in the first half of 2011 in Israel and offer contracts to clients that buy the cars from Renault dealers in Denmark, a statement said.
The companies "commit to a volume of at least 100,000 vehicles for both countries by 2016," it added.
Better Place will offer three charging solutions to owners of the cars, including a standard top-up of the battery in four to eight hours, or a quick charge of 20 minutes that would restore 80% of its power.
The company's "Quick Drop" option would also allow drivers to exchange depleted batteries for a fully-charged one in less time than it takes to fill up a tank with petrol, it said.
Boss Shai Agassi told media his company's first network would be established next year in Israel and operate starting in 2011.
Agassi estimated that the market share for electric cars could be "more than 15% in the countries where Better Place is established."
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2009
