ABSTRACT

Better Place's innovative business model proposed to offer transportation services to consumers through miles per month subscription plans, with the cost of the electric car being subsidized based on the tenure of the plan. It entered into alliances with electric car manufacturers, battery manufacturers, and renewable energy producers. By using renewable energy sources to power the charging stations wherever possible, Better Place attempted to eliminate even the indirect emissions of greenhouse gases due to the operation of electric cars. The company entered into agreements with two densely populated but small countries—Israel and Denmark, and a sparsely populated big country—Australia. In December 2008, Israel agreed to partner with Better Place to build the charging network. In Denmark, Better Place signed up with DONG Energy which had wind power installations. Better Place entered into an agreement with the state of California in the US to build the charging infrastructure for the electric cars.