Shai Agassi's Project Better Place is holding talks with a Persian Gulf state for the deployment of infrastructure for electric cars along the lines of the infrastructure planned for Israel. The energy source would probably be a solar power station. The company said in response, "The company does not disclose the names of countries with which it is holding business negotiations."
Nonetheless, Renault president CEO Carlos Ghosn said at a press conference earlier this month that the company was in talks with "a Persian Gulf state" regarding the purchase of electric cars built by the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
Israeli energy market sources told "Globes" that as part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance's alliance with Project Better Place, the latter would provide the infrastructure for the electric cars. The sources added that the negotiations with the Gulf state were managed through a California subsidiary of Project Better Place, and were not handled directly from Israel.
Last month, "Globes" reported that a number of Persian Gulf states were investing in electric car technology and solar power stations in order to improve their air quality. This program involved the extensive purchase of electric cars. An Abu Dhabi investment company reportedly is in talks with a French company regarding the purchase of tens of thousands of electric cars for government, military, and private customers. Abu Dhabi has the world's third largest oil reserves.
Israel Corp. (TASE: ILCO) is a major investor in Project Better Place.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 12, 2008
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2008