Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., March 11, 2009 Adar 15, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:53 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File

Merc exec: Battery replacement plan for Agassi car is hazardous By Yoav Kaveh GENEVA - An executive for the German car maker Mercedes says a central concept behind Shai Agassi's Better Place electric cars may be dangerous. Better Place has been working with Renault-Nissan to build recharging stations for electric-powered cars, which the French-Japanese auto maker expects to have on the market by 2011. To extend the distance the car can travel, Agassi's firm suggests intercity battery replacement stations to complement the more time-consuming option of recharging. But Thomas Weber, Mercedes' director of group research and car development, told TheMarker that such battery replacement stations could pose safety hazards. Advertisement Weber, also a director at Daimler-Benz, says Mercedes explored a similar plan in the 1970s, and found that changing a battery on the road could cause electrocution or fire. The industry has not even resolved matters as basic as the optimum location for an electric car's battery or the battery type, he says. Without such battery replacement stations, electric cars would be confined to city use, with a range of only 150 to 200 kilometers. Better Place says highway battery replacement stations would not only extend the cars' range, but would also save the time of recharging. Weber says that from conversations with Agassi, he believes Mercedes does not share Better Place's vision. The Mercedes exec thinks that at least initially, electric cars should have a permanent lithium ion battery with a 200-kilometer range, and said Mercedes is already working to produce such a product. He also discounts the prospect of a totally non-polluting car in the near future, and thinks that for the next 10 to 20 years, almost all cars on the road will still have gasoline- or diesel-powered internal combustion engines. Even achieving a 10% market share for electric cars would require hefty government subsidies, which would be difficult to come by, he says. In Germany, where the average car is at least nine years old, it will be years before the current models are replaced by more environmentally friendly ones, Weber predicts. Weber says there have been baby steps in advancing the electric car, noting that Mercedes has a fleet of 100 electric test cars. He concedes that the distant future belongs to the electric engine, which will be powered by rechargeable batteries or fuel cells. Mercedes, he says, is also looking to develop infrastructure for an electric car and has inked letters of understanding with governments around the world. The world economic crisis has actually accelerated the push for fuel-efficient environmentally friendly cars, but there is consumer resistance, Weber says. In deliberating whether to buy now or wait, many people choose to put off a purchase, believing that technology is constantly improving, he adds. The same dynamic exists in the computer market, he notes. The thinking goes that for the same price, in a few years the consumer can buy a much more advanced model. So what does he advise potential car buyers? Don't wait. Better Place commented that its product is designed to enable the mass use of electric cars. The model is based on daily recharging at charging points, and replacing the battery during long journeys. The element of battery replacement is being developed with Renault, the company said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Katsav rape trial Katsav's brother attacks decision to indict former president for rape. Covering up Assad says alleged nuclear site hit by IAF has been built over.

Read & React Shalit negotiator arrives in Cairo as soldier's parents hold protest Responses: 126 Hamas official hails British MP Galloway as 'hero' in Gaza Responses: 154 IAEA: Arabs crucial to resolving Iran nuke issue Responses: 52 Yoel Marcus: If talk could kill, we'd already be at war with Iran Responses: 45 A. Sagi and Y. Stern: Demonization of Arabs down to Jewish fears over own loyalty Responses: 45 More Headlines 23:01 Likud MK confirms he met Syrian official in U.S. 23:44 U.S. analyst withdraws from top post after criticism for anti-Israel views 19:03 U.S. intel chief: Israel takes `worst-case` view of Iran nukes threat 19:10 Interpol mulls Iran`s request for 25 Israeli officials over Gaza op 20:29 Aliza Olmert tells Shalits she empathizes with their struggle 16:56 Israeli energy start-up turns traffic into source of electricity 22:47 Madoff to plead guilty, faces 150 years in prison 10:48 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel 20:41 Sderot opens heavily fortified indoor children's playground 21:19 U.K. Muslims disrupt parade for soldiers returning from Iraq 21:25 Supreme Court upholds ban on Palestinian activist from traveling to accept award 18:33 Israeli aircraft strike Gaza rocket squad, wounding three 19:03 Security Council committee accuses Iran of violating UN sanctions 18:38 Report: Russia may put on hold Iran missile deal Previous Editions Select Day 10 mar 09 mar 08 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 01 mar 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb

Special Offers Advertisement Spring Specials-Dan Hotels Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$ Dead Sea Skin Care Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off! Summer in Israel Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009 Passover Vacations The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida Camp Kimama Israel 2009 The best place for your children this summer Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results

Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved