Tel Aviv in Renault electric car network talks

Tel Aviv would model a citywide electric car rental network on the Tel-O-Fun bicycle project, with or without Better Place.

19 November 12 18:11, Dubi Ben-Gedalayahu

Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality is in talks with French carmaker Renault S.A. and its Israel importer and distributor Carasso Motors Ltd. (TASE: CRSO). The talks concern the setting up of an urban electric car infrastructure that would operate on the same rental model as the city's Tel-O-Fun bicycle rental project.

A similar project is currently under trial in Paris based on Renault's two-seater Twizy car. The project includes "charging centers" that will be able to charge three vehicles at the same time.

Three weeks ago Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai met with Renault executives in Paris and offered to make Tel Aviv a beta site for the automaker to try out their concept outside of Europe. Sources in the Tel Aviv Municipality say that the idea is "more appropriate for the city's conditions than deploying a charging network for Better Place's saloon cars."

However, it is still possible that any electric car network set up in Tel Aviv would be based on the charging and management services of Better Place Inc. without battery exchanges. Several cities in France are also checking out using Twizys for policing and municipal enforcement tasks.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 19, 2012

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