InfoAnda - Israel gears up to go electric

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Taiwan and China sign historic trade pact | | 29 June 2010
NATO says its aircraft hit Libyan rebel column | | 19 June 2011
Florida fears deepen as oil enters the Loop Current | 20 May 2010

Tenor Placido Domingo takes Pampano restaurant to Qatar | 12 May 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Israel gears up to go electric

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Israel gears up to go electric AFP - Monday, February 14 Send IM Story Print Israel gears up to go electric TEL AVIV (AFP) - – These heralds of a new age are remarkably quiet. No drums, no trumpets, just the whirr of a robot changing batteries and an electric car silently gliding around the Better Place test track. These are the final touches as Israeli-American entrepreneur Shai Agassi prepares to deploy a fleet of electric cars later this year, hoping to break Israel's dependence on oil by the end of the decade. But as Agassi's venture gathers momentum, with similar projects getting under way in Australia, Canada, Denmark and Hawaii, there are a few issues casting a shadow over his vision of making the world a better place. Rivals and experts have expressed doubts over the technical aspects, particularly the ability of Israel's electric grid to handle a sudden increase in demand from electric cars. Of greater concern is that French automaker Renault, Agassi's main partner and vehicle supplier, is embroiled in a messy industrial espionage scandal surrounding its flagship electric car programme. Still, Agassi -- a hi-tech multi-millionaire and former number-two at German software group SAP -- remains optimistic, both about the success of his project and the inevitability of its global impact. "We did not decide to change the world, we decided to do something that will make the world a better place," Agassi told AFP at the Better Place visitor's centre near Tel Aviv. His idea is simple: to get an entire country to give up its dependence on oil. "The only approach that gets us off dependence on oil in a way that is scalable, to run the country and the world, will be an electric car," he said. To do this, he needed to overcome a problem that has kept electric cars a rare sight for over a century -- short battery life and long recharging times which has made them impractical for most drivers. Agassi's solution was to combine a vast country-wide network of convenient recharge points, with the ability to switch to a full battery in less time than it takes to fill up a regular car with petrol (gasoline). "We have to get a car to be more convenient and more affordable for the market to adopt it," said Agassi. At the centre they demonstrate the battery switch technology. The car rolls onto two rails, like a car wash, and a robot slides underneath where it removes the depleted 200 kilogramme (320 pound) battery and replaces it with a charged one in less than a minute. The precision technology is taken from Israel's air force, which uses the same mechanism to load and release bombs from F-16 fighter jets, explains the guide. At the nearby test track, visitors are trying out the cars. The vehicles respond immediately to pressure on the accelerator and the ride is smoother as electric engines don't have gears. But the most startling aspect is the silence. Inside the car, the only sound is the hum of the air conditioner; outside, it is just the sound of tyres on tarmac. "The driving is very pleasant and calm ... it's simply an experience," said Haim Lotem, a local resident who has come to see what all the fuss is about. Agassi says the first of the 100,000 Renault Fluence ZE (Zero Emission) family sedans will hit the road before the end of the year. Some 10,000 of the 50,000 visitors to the centre have already signed up and Better Place has inked agreements with 150 corporate fleets to offer the Fluence to their employees. "We are looking for 5,000 cars in the first year to see that the system works, then 20,000 in the second year," Agassi said. He expects a massive jump in 2015 as the system proves itself to be efficient and cheaper than petrol, and as the technology is embraced by the public. "Three years after, about half of the kilometres (driven) in Israel will be electric cars," he confidently predicted. But others don't buy into his rosy outlook. Marc Coroler, a senior vice president at Schneider Electric, told the Haaretz newspaper that Israel's state-run electricity grid would not be able to handle the influx of electric cars that use as much power as a household. And in Israel, a geographically small nation with 2.5 million motor vehicles on the road, experts say the environmental benefits will be much smaller than Agassi projects. "The effect of electric cars means an increase in demand for electricity," said Paul Rivlin, a senior researcher at Tel Aviv University's Dayan Centre, specialising in oil and economics. "In order to provide the electricity you need to manufacture it. In Israel we use oil, gas and even coal," he said. Agassi says he'll overcome grid limitations by linking all two million electric cars together with software that will oversee and manage the recharging "without the addition of a single generator or transmission line." And besides, most people will recharge their cars overnight when demand is low, he says. He acknowledges that while the pollution savings in Israel will be limited, they will improve as Israel moves away from coal. He is also trying to source renewable energy and the end result will still be "significantly better than anything you do with a gasoline or diesel car. "Obviously if you go to places like France you go directly to zero (emissions), with nuclear and hydro making up 95 percent of the electric grid," he said. Agassi refuses to comment directly on the industrial espionage scandal at Renault, which has sacked three top managers in its four billion euro ($5.5 billion) electric car programme and begun legal action. But he says it won't affect his goals. "I don't see a single reason to believe today that Renault will miss the dates or the quality of the car." And even sceptics like Rivlin agree that he can make the world a "better Place" if a successful launch in Israel can be a model for other nations. "If Israel can do it successfully then it will be of interest to other people and will spur on the United States and China -- that is where it should be very important," said Rivlin. "These demonstration effects are very powerful in the global economic system." Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles US-TECH Summary Reuters - 37 minutes ago Analysis: Telcos battle tech, banking titans in mobile payment Reuters - 38 minutes ago Smartphone makers woo developers at trade Reuters - 2 hours 29 minutes ago Linux group hopes to gain from Nokia-Microsoft pact Reuters - 2 hours 37 minutes ago Egypt cyber activist kissed soldiers on release AFP - Monday, February 14 News Search Top Stories EU, IMF seek to repair Greek rift after asset furore Points, Murray win at Pebble Beach golf tournament Boeing unveils latest 747 Europe set for landmark launch with robot freighter Bono causes stir over S. African anti-apartheid song More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed US golfer Woods finds old habits hard to shake Russia loses military satellite: reports US auto sales jump 17 percent in January Dow closes over 12,000 for first time since June 2008 Egypt's Mubarak to step down at September election More Most Viewed » More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Entertainment Photos Yahoo! News Network Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Monday, 14 February 2011
Maliki fills power, trade, other Iraq cabinet jobs
Swiss vote to keep army guns at home
US-TECH Summary
Clashes in Algeria as opposition plans new protest
Bono causes stir over S. African anti-apartheid song
EU, IMF seek to repair Greek rift over asset sale
Sony takes gaming console war to phones
Military rulers dissolve Egypt's parliament
Thousands of Italy's women rally against Berlusconi
Egypt military dismantles Mubarak regime
Samsung beats Apple to second tablet computer
Abbas' cabinet to resign on Monday: sources |
Swiss vote to keep army-issued weapons at home
Egypt protesters call for Friday celebration march
Smartphone makers to woo developers in Barcelona
Algeria opposition says to hold weekly rallies |
Nearly 1,000 Tunisians arrive in Italy overnight
Internet firms to refund users cut off in Egypt
Readers, bloggers sound off on Huff Post sale
Britain considering 'gay marriage' in churches
Iran pressures opposition ahead of planned rally
Maltese bulk carrier believed seized by pirates |
Iran names attacked scientist nuclear chief
Wenders takes 3D to next dimension at Berlin fest
Venezuela's Chavez mocks foes' Egypt comparisons |
Prized Pharaonic objects missing from Egypt Museum
US-TECH Summary
Egypt military rulers dissolve parliament: state TV
Samsung beats Apple to second tablet computer
Opposition protesters back on streets of Bangkok
BAFTAs 2011
Wenders takes 3D to next dimension at Berlin fest
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Movie fans catch Bieber fever at box offices
Samsung beats Apple to second tablet computer |
Grown-up Londoners share their teenage angst
French animator brings 3D magic to Berlin festival
Eminem hoping to avoid another Grammys shocker
Flair lights up runways at NY Fashion Week
Sony takes gaming console war to phones |
Stars glitter on red carpet at UK's BAFTA awards |
Movie fans catch Bieber fever at box offices |
Iran 'steadily' produces enriched uranium: IAEA head
23 fishermen missing in Russia: report
EU, IMF seek to repair Greek rift after asset furore
Crucial test looms for key Afghan battleground
Europe set for landmark launch with robot freighter
Points, Murray win at Pebble Beach golf tournament
Mother fails to find Swiss twins in Corsica
Boeing unveils latest 747
Army asserts command as Egypt drifts back to work |
Gaddafi tells Palestinians: revolt against Israel
Italy appeals for EU aid as migrants flee Tunisia
Abbas's cabinet to resign on Monday: sources |
Ouattara says may extend Ivorian cocoa export ban: report |
Egypt cyber activist kissed soldiers on release
Japan's ruling party proposes suspending powerbroker Ozawa |
Witness: Joy at Mubarak's demise contrasts with tense accession |
Thousands in S. Korea help clear record snow
BAFTAs 2011
Colombia's FARC rebels free kidnapped policeman |
Indonesia cleric defiant in face of terror charges
Italian women protest over Berlusconi sex scandal |
At least 10 Chinese moles infiltrate Taiwan
Zynga talks may value it at up to $9 billion: report
Michael Jackson's dad in Vietnam 'Happyland' scheme
Nuance offers mobile users non-typing choices
Myanmar's Suu Kyi risks 'tragic end': state media
ZTE aims for 5-fold smartphone sales growth in 2011
Lady Antebellum wins song of the year Grammy
Smartphone makers woo developers at trade
R. Kelly's "Star Spangled Banner" Highlight of Clive Davis Event
Campaign vests are fashion disasters: Taiwanese blogger
Country trio Lady Antebellum leads Grammy winners
Nokia CEO sees billions from Microsoft deal
Tweet, don't text, telco tells lovers
Israel gears up to go electric
Smartphone makers woo developers at trade |
COMMENTARY: Doubtful benefits of dual listings
News on first Nokia Windows Phone within days
Analysis: Telcos battle tech, banking titans in mobile payment |
Serious, light moments in Pacquiao-Mosley presscon
Apple developing smaller, cheaper iPhones: report
Nokia CEO sees billions from Microsoft deal |
COMMENTARY: World Cup fever yet to grip Indians
Linux group hopes to gain from Nokia-Microsoft pact
Grammys pays tribute to Aretha Franklin
Zynga talks may value it at up to $9 billion: report |
Linux group hopes to gain from Nokia-Microsoft pact |
Lady Gaga "hatches" from egg, sports pointy shoulders
Paul McCartney wins Grammy for "Helter Skelter"
ZTE aims for 5-fold smartphone sales growth in 2011 |
'Khodorkovsky' director wary of showing film in Russia
Nuance offers mobile users non-typing choices |
Ukrainian group makes bare breasts political weapon
Venezuela's Chavez mocks foes' Egypt comparisons
Militia says Western spies concocting Iran revolt
Human chain in Dresden marks WWII bombing
Country trio Lady Antebellum leads Grammy winners |
Linux group hopes to gain from Nokia-Microsoft pact
Lady Gaga hatches from egg, sports pointy shoulders |
Pop idol Justin Bieber: No Grammys, no worries |
Old and new stars come together Grammy awards show |
Paul McCartney wins Grammy for Helter Skelter |
Movie fans catch Bieber fever at box offices |
R. Kelly's Star Spangled Banner Highlight of Clive Davis Event |
US-TECH Summary
Nokia CEO sees billions from Microsoft deal
Sony takes console war to cellphones
News on first Nokia Windows Phone within days
Sony takes gaming console war to phones
Taiwan to let China firms invest in LCD firms
US hedge fund eyes China elderly housing: report
Seoul shares rise 1.9 pct as techs rally
China's trade surplus drops 53.5% in January
Pakistan
Japan overtaken by China as No. 2 economy
Taiwan may allow bigger China stakes in LCD firms
UK will maintain contested £1 billion India aid
Seoul shares rise 1.9 pct as techs rally
S.Korea c.bank to offer 28-day term deposit facility
Prince William picks Harry as best man
Taliban suicide attack kills two at Kabul mall
Obama eyes tax hikes, spending cuts to curb deficit
Egypt police march in Tahrir to support revolution
Abramovich slips down Russia's rich list
U.S. reaches out to Iranians in Farsi on Twitter
Iran police fire teargas at protest marchers: witness |
Airline trade body says 3.3 bln passengers by 2014
Berlusconi shrugs off women's protests
Russia kicks off new privatisation drive
Egypt cyber activists say they met military rulers
Berlusconi refuses to resign, dismisses protest |
Iran police fire teargas at protest marchers
Kabul suicide attack kills two guards at mall
Yemen police struggle to break up clashing protesters |
Analysis: Telcos battle tech, banking titans in mobile payment
Afghan prosecutors seize vote data: officials
Italy and Tunisia in row over illegal migrants |
Iran police fire tear gas in clash with protesters
Mexican police chief killed in bold attack: report |
Blast at hotel complex in Afghan capital kills 2
Ballot disputes cast shadows over Afghan parliament |
Protesters, police clash in Bahrain on Day of Rage |
Suicide attack on Kabul hotel kills two |
Britain's Prince Harry to be William's best man
Thai 'kissathon' claims new world record
Old and new stars come together at Grammy awards show
Justin Bieber: No Grammys, no worries
China's ZTE aims for top 3 in telecom gear |
Experiment volunteers to 'walk on Mars'
Indonesian clerics soften tone to Valentine's Day
Arcade Fire wins album of the year Grammy
Nokia's Microsoft tie-up gets renewed hammering |
Analysis: For now, small is good for Android apps publishers |
Barnes & Noble invites Amazon affiliates to switch |
Corrected: AOL Chief Executive Tim Armstrong doubles investment |
RIM says state security demands are normal |
Consumers would pay for premium telco services: study |
Nokia CEO sees billions from Microsoft deal |
Film takes unusual view of Chernobyl disaster |
Britain's Prince Harry to be William's best man |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01