Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., February 19, 2008 Adar1 13, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:21 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 10:09 07/02/2008 Scooter-maker Piaggio to begin electric car sales in Israel in one month By Daniel Schmil, TheMarker Tags: electric cars, piaggio  Scooter maker Piaggio will be the first company to market an electric car in Israel. Sales are set to begin in about a month, three years before the expected launch of Shai Agassi's electric car initiative. Figaro's Porter model is a small multipurpose van (MPV) that runs on an electric 12 or 14 horsepower engine that can reach a maximum speed of 58 km/h. These qualities, along with the vehicle's short length of 3.37 meters, make it suitable only for urban use. The car is able to run for 250 kilometers on a full battery charge that takes just two hours. The battery can be charged with normal home outlets. The lightweight MPV will be the first to enjoy the tax breaks offered by the green taxation commission. A spokesman for the company said the firm has won approval in principle for a purchase tax rate of just 10% even before the green tax law is passed in the Knesset, bringing the cost to consumers to NIS 120,000. Advertisement The Porter will be sold in Israel in five models including the passenger model (with four seats), the closed commercial model with a payload capacity of 560 kg, and two open deck models, with or without a tipper bar, making them suitable for light earthworks transport. The gas-fueled model, with it's 1.3-liter Daihatsu engine, will also be introduced to Israel. Later this year Piaggio's two-seater, 500 cc diesel engine m500 model will also be hitting the market here. Its importer, Alon Motors, says that the vehicle will run on 30 km per liter. Alon Motors is a subsidiary of Alon Garages, which specializes in commercial vehicles. They expect annual sales of these to reach 800 per year. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Artistic justice Israel Museum to exhibit art looted by Nazis and unclaimed. Let in snow For second time this winter, Jerusalem braces for snow.   1.   No smoke from the exhaust, but... 04:38  |  Harry 07/02/08   2.   Eelctric car 07:15  |  Butch 07/02/08   3.   WAHT A BUNCH OF IDIOTS. THIS TECHNOLOGY USES MORE OIL THAN A GASW 08:30  |  Satchmo 07/02/08   4.   Bravo! 09:55  |  Rick Gross 07/02/08   5.   What a Rip OFF 11:01  |  Prince 07/02/08   6.   Donkey cart for frummies 11:39  |  Bon Levi 07/02/08   7.   What good is a car that only goes 58 kph? 12:14  |  Yaakov Ish Tam 07/02/08   8.   GOOD, more alternatives 13:44  |  Dror 07/02/08   9.   120k ??? 14:08  |  Leor 07/02/08   10.   Elecric cars with a "range extender" is the ultimate solution 01:55  |  Sam 08/02/08   11.   Energy efficiency 12:06  |  Quino 08/02/08   12.   We need more cars like that 02:05  |  William Northern 09/02/08   13.   1 Elecric cars take polutants off the street. 13:34  |  Sam 09/02/08   14.   You have to think biger! 19:23  |  Cheap! 11/02/08   15.   Reasons why electric cars make sense 09:08  |  Brian 12/02/08   16.   Electric Vehicles Cleanest Transportation Option 02:54  |  Hugh E Webber 19/02/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Anti-Zionism as a form of racism Responses: 320 Foreign Min. expected to slam Iran anti-Israel jibe in missive to UN Responses: 297 Top diplomat: Calling Sderot-Gaza violence 'cycle' may breed terror Responses: 143 Anshel Pfeffer: Are Israeli policies risking the lives of Diaspora Jews? Responses: 93 Abbas rejects PM call to defer talks on Jerusalem Responses: 125 Report: Progress made in Shalit prisoner swap deal Responses: 39 Rosner's Domain Brzezinski didn't show up (WTR) How would Obama handle Israel? Ex-advisors offer clues Clinton's peace team: the attacks on Rob Malley "vicious" (WTR) Most blatant example of Israeli interference in American election The U.S. and Mughniyah / Not just 'who' but also 'where' More Headlines 03:11 Israel: U.S. agrees to delay talks on J'lem, Abbas rejects agreement 02:18 Lebanon braces itself for possible Hezbollah attack on Israel 23:45 Foreign Ministry said to slam Iranian anti-Israel jibe in missive to UN 22:05 Nine Qassams hit Negev, one strikes yard of home in Sderot 20:24 Top diplomat: Calling violence in south a 'cycle' may breed terror 01:57 France sends 29 to trial over kidnap and murder of Jewish man 01:47 Israelis 30 times more likely to be wiretapped than Americans 03:21 Vatican: Pius XII sainthood process not stalled 00:58 Coldest January in 15 years falls short of being Israel's harshest winter 22:04 Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi to retain position despite AG opposition 21:55 Mauritania releases 8 detained after Israeli embassy attack 22:40 Prisons Service refuses early release of man charged with giving Hezbollah information 00:10 Defense Min. in Singapore set to publicly attend weapons expo Previous Editions Select Day 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved