Journal 12, June 21

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/energy/23526/
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/energy/23526/

Better Place has demonstrated its new proposal for battery switching stations. The company did a demonstration of how it would work this morning in Yokohama, Japan. The battery-switching stations would be placed at various points on the highway and enable electric car drivers to swap out their low-charged batteries for fully charged batteries. The battery station swap has a proposed time less than that of pumping gas and would enable electric car drivers to travel long distances. These stations would the alternative to drivers having to re-charge their batteries which could take hours.

Japan is currently studying the implementation of stations to reach its goal of half of all cars purchased being electric vehicles by 2020. Inevitably, this would put Japan ahead of many of the major world powers in terms of creating an sustainable national infrastructure.

However, the stations do not come without a few setbacks. Currently, electric car developers are using different battery packs. If the stations carried too many battery packs, it would make switching stations too costly. Chrysler, who just unveiled five different battery packs are an example of the battery pack variation.

Better Place, the world’s leading electric vehicle service provider is racing to be one of the first to provide battery switching stations to various global markets. Their innovative ideas coupled with the electric technology can ultimately propel this new electric market to mainstream consumer appeal and feasibility.

If implemented, these swap stations could thwart more than one obstacle at providing electric cars that could go long distances and bring us one step closer to a green society. Through these new electric technologies, zero-emission cars can emerge as our gateway to cutting down on CO2 tremendously. It is so exciting to see companies working with governments in order to provide technologies that can better society, the planet, and humanity.

View Swap Video bElow:

Sources:
http://www.betterplace.com/company/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30744602/