Comments on: Better Place Sold To Sunrise Group For $12 Million

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 17:57:00 +0000

I think you’re probably correct. Capacity/range will increase. Charge times are already short enough (~90% in <20 minutes).

Here's what I think will happen. Restaurants/stores close to major highways will install fast chargers in their parking lots. Chargers with ~3 cords per charger. Charge in sequence.

You'll drive in and hook up. Then you'll be free to eat/shop for as much as an hour before you'll need to move your car so someone else can hook up. If you're the first to plug in you'll get charged in less than 20 minutes but you won't have to move right away.

Merchants/restaurants will provide these rapid chargers at a very attractive price because they will bring in business. Many gas stations make little from selling gas, their main profits come from the mini-market stuff.
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There are hundreds of EV taxis in use already. They rapid charge during driver meal breaks. They seem to be doing fine without battery swapping.

By: Senlac

Senlac — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 16:50:00 +0000

In five years time, EV battery capacity will increase, charge times will decrease, both buy not a small amount. The only need for battery swapping will be for upgrading your battery. Fleet cars/vans and Taxis etc.. are good uses for swapping which may remain relevant over time.

By: shecky vegas

shecky vegas — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 18:03:00 +0000

The concept was okay but it was applied wrong. Nobody wants “once size fits all” for their vehicle and that includes the battery, despite the plethora of lead acids. Battery swapping would’ve worked better in a fleet system rather than in terms of the general public.

By: ++++++++++ Picti.US ++++++++++

++++++++++ Picti.US ++++++++++ — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 16:23:00 +0000

the only way to save Better Place is to give a kick in the ass to Shai
Agassi and ask the REAL inventor of this proposal …
gaetanomarano .it/articles/033cellphoneCAR. html

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 08:09:00 +0000

Good point.

By: wattleberry

wattleberry — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 06:56:00 +0000

Don’t know if it was a factor here, but many early projects founder for being too far-sighted, having to spend too much for pioneering work when demand has yet to be created. Hopefully, though, that work is not wasted and forms the foundation for use later.