Better Place today announced that it has signed cooperation agreements with 19 Israeli companies to test the suitability of electric cars for their fleets in the first stage of the company's electric car program.
The participating companies cover the gamut of Israeli industry, from high tech to telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, finance, manufacturing, agriculture, and juice. They include Israel Corporation (TASE: ILCO), which has invested heavily in the venture, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA; TASE: TEVA), Pelephone Communications Ltd., Partner Communications Ltd. (Nasdaq: PTNR; TASE: PTNR), Matrix IT Ltd. (TASE:MTRX), Direct Insurance - Financial Investments Ltd. (TASE: DIFI), Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Netafim Ltd., Keter Plastics Ltd., Orbotech Ltd. (Nasdaq: ORBK), juice maker Jafora Tabori Ltd., Manpower Israel Ltd., SQlink Ltd., Nike Israel Ltd., and Glasshouse Technologies Ltd.
Better Place will begin designing the recharging points for the companies' electric cars and install them at the companies' parking lots and employees' homes. It will also work with the companies' managers and employees in the design and deployment of the infrastructure in order to optimize and customize them to the needs of each company.
Better Place Israel general manager Moshe Kaplinsky said, "Leading Israeli companies understand the strategic importance of meeting one of the greatest challenges now facing us: our dependence on oil and its effect on our economy, environment, and security. "
Better Place CEO Shai Agassi added, "We are today seeing the certification that there is real market demand for electric cars that will use Better Place's grid. We expect demand to grow as Israeli companies join in the vision, as well as in other countries, which together represent a potential global market of 50 million cars. We see today the tip of the iceberg of global demand."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 23, 2009
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2009