In a silent parade, a caravan of 70 electric cars set off for a spin on the streets of Tel Aviv on Sunday to celebrate the inauguration of electric car marker Better Place's first gas-free fleet. Better Place has been paving the way for fully electric transportation since its founding in 2007. With its partner, French auto maker Renault, the Israeli company has created not only electric vehicles, but also the entire infrastructure required to maintain them. Better Place's current fleet consists entirely of the Renault Fluence Z.E., an entirely electric mid-sized sedan that employs the company's "Quickdrop" battery switch system. While the car can be charged just like an ordinary appliance via an electrical outlet, Better Place has also developed a fully automated system in which the car's battery is swapped in a procedure similar to going to the car wash. The whole procedure lasts less than five minutes. The company plans eventually to have stations set up throughout the country. Better Place's research and development operations are located in Israel, and in the near future, the company hopes to introduce its electric car and accompanying battery-swapping network to some 25 additional countries. CEO Shai Agassi was named one of TIME Magazine's top 20 Global Influentials in 2003, and was also included in the magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2009.
