Power query for electric cars

Mercedes-Benz has just confirmed a battery-powered version of its SLS supercar, also known as the gullwing, and Peugeot is sharing the technology in the upcoming Mitsubishi iMiEV.

But the biggest questions on the electric front are still hanging — how and where will these plug-in cars get their power? "It's a chicken-and-egg question. The trend to electrification is clearly there. But what we are focussed on is the barriers to adoption," says Ben Keneally, head of external affairs at Better Place Australia.

He predicts a major breakthrough in the coming week when Better Place announces a new development to link drivers to the charging and battery-change network it is planning, firstly in Norway and Israel and then in Australia.

"We've really got the positioning around being able to deploy hundreds of thousands of charge points around the place. We're looking to bring that together with the software. It's the network of charge spots and switch stations. It's not just about location, it's about the mode of charging the battery."

Better Place is promising big things and Keneally believes the pieces are coming together, although there are plenty of boxes still to be ticked in Australia. "Once we have Israel up and operating we are a long way to getting 100 per cent here. You cannot underestimate the demonstration effect," he says.

And the Better Place strategy includes a targeted approach to converting people to electric cars. "With two-car households we'll be targeting one of the cars as a start. With any sort of disrutive technology you have to build people's confidence. And that's part of our plan." The next pieces of that puzzle will be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week. It promises to be an interesting presentation.

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