Denmark Launch

I wanted to share with you my speech from our launch of Project Better Place in Denmark. I will have another post on why and how we got to choose Denmark as the second country, but in the mean time - this should be fairly self explanatory. You can actually see the launch itself as we archived the webcast on the ProjectBetterPlace.com site. The launch was part of the closing event for the Copenhagen Climate council and included the deputy prime minister of Denmark, DONG's CEO Anders Eldrup, and others.

Mike Granoff and I wrote different parts of this speech. Mike figured out my "voice" better than I have myself. Joe Paluska put it together an hour before the event...

"How do you run all cars in Denmark without gasoline? How do you build a virtual oil field big enough to drive an entire country?

Some people say about me that I dream big. well, as much as I would like to be called a dreamer, I will share with you today a very pragmatic, down to earth solution to one of our biggest challenges in the global fight to stop climate change - moving our transportation systems to zero emissions.

Cars are a way of living - we are emotional about them, we don’t like to share them, and we like them to go fast and far, even though these days we can’t go too fast and can’t afford to go too far. Yet, while we would not let our kids burn fuel in their bedrooms, we collectively burn up their living room - our planet. The price of driving cars in our cities comes in the form of smog leading to deaths and respiratory problems. The price of extracting fossil fuels from deep in our planet and burning up the carbon into the atmosphere is a change to the planet’s delicate atmosphere which regulates life on our planet. We may be able to afford 2 Euro per liter of gasoline, but we cannot afford to kill people or lose our only planet.

Project Better Place declared only 2 months ago in Israel a groundbreaking new framework for electric transportation at country scale. In a simple way of describing our model, we are a new mobile company. Applying the same model as mobile phones to electric vehicles, we set a ubiquitous infrastructure that makes electric vehicles convenient, affordable, having long-range and appealing to consumers. We connect clean generation sources, through the grid, with car batteries - providing drivers with a better alternative to burning gasoline. Zero emission vehicles all the way from generation to drive at a scale that can move an entire country is the creation of a virtual oil field - one that will never run dry, and will not kill us in the process. We always said that this solution framework is not confined to Israel alone, and Denmark was a perfect country to bring .

Denmark has always led the way in environmental policy, demonstrating the commitment of the people to lead the world in well designed solutions. The current policy set by the Danish government demonstrates a true commitment to pushing the country away from gasoline consumption. I want to thank the Danish government for appealing to Project Better Place, through the ongoing work of Invest in Denmark and multiple ministries across government. Eliminating car emissions alone will reduce carbon emissions at the level of our Kyoto commitments. Yet, on the eve of COP15, it might be time for leadership on policy and solutions that can answer the big questions of our time - stop using percentages reduction in 2050 and start using the number zero more often - such as how can we run an entire country with zero car emissions; How do generate all of our electricity needs while having zero carbon footprint.

Denmark is also a world leader in clean electricity generation. Wind, which accounts for 20% of installed capacity, is strong at night - a time when most cars are parked and charging. Utilizing wind capacity for electric vehicles can drive every car without any emissions not only in Denmark but across all of Scandinavia. Leveraging the batteries as a distributed storage device for electricity can make wind and other intermittent electricity sources a convenient source of energy for other needs as well.

We have found a great partner here in Denmark to work with us on launching Better Place Denmark - in DONG energy. Throughout the last months we have shared our framework and exchanged information with DONG’s teams in a detailed due diligence process. I am glad to share with you that Anders and I signed a memorandum of understanding today which will lead to DONG becoming a founding partner in Better Place Denmark. I believe that DONG is demonstrating true leadership in what will become the model for the next generation energy company across Europe. Anders, I am looking forward to a great partnership together.

Over the next 100 days we will finalize our agreements and provide details for the way Better Place Denmark will be formed and managed. The local company will enjoy the benefits of our global research and development program, and connect Danish companies into our supply chain network around the world. Denmark will enjoy the cars our partner Renault - Nissan is developing - a great electric car which in the words of Carlos Ghosn -”will be fun to drive”. We will bring capital from our investment partners into Denmark and generate jobs in the country. We will set up a Danish company that will be part of a bigger idea - Doing the right thing for the environment can be the best thing for business.

In closing, I Want to thank Erik for his great vision and leadership with the climate council. He was instrumental in getting all parties together from my first meeting here in Copenhagen 6 months ago. I want to thank Anders and his team for trusting Better Place in setting this partnership. and I want to thank the Danish Government and invest in Denmark for the support we got so far.

Thank you all."

Comments

[Theodore Wu]

Sounds like a great idea-- when do you start something in the USA?

[Hermann Mallia]

Its always a pleasure learning more about this revolutionary project especially when it is applied in markets where the authorities are ready to promote enviromental motor vehicles by reducing the car registration taxes. As far as I know the highest car taxes in Europe are actually Denmark and Malta, but on the other hand both Governments are willing to support initiatives like Project Better Place

[Philip Alper]

Living in Israel, it sounds great. But can we get some projected figures for costs to the car owner - initial outlay, running costs, etc?

[Jørgen Hansen - Jh-Consult - Denmark]

Representing a German producer of Lithium-ion Batteries
www.li-tec.de

Safe and high quality batteries.
including Ceramic Seperators.

[Stefan Graber]

Israel and Denmark are small countries with sun and wind, perfect for starting your project. But this will not help to lower pollution coming from motorization globally.
What do you think about the combination of a SOFC drive train with a li-ion battery integrated in a EV? The fuel consumption is signifantly lower, almost no pollution, existing fuel infrastructure (gasoline, Diesel, bio-fuels, LNG, GTL can be used for SOFC APUs) and ready to go within the next few years. Volume production of 5 - 20 kW SOFC APUs up to 100,000 units a year can start in 2012. The APU power is enough for Small Cars like the smart, Fiat 500, Toyota Aygo including full air condition - and along the development curve of the SOFC technology and the li-ion battery technology, middle-size cars and light trucks can be targeted.
Your and our target is the same: to save energy and to save our world against pollution, only the way is different. We with our ePowTrain project can help to save fuel and pollution significantly - and not in many years from now after a charge or battery infrastructure is established in all larger countries or countries which have an existing infrastructure in fuel stations and are not "blessed" with wind, sun or other renewable energy sources.

[Emil Möller]

------ f a n t a s t i c ------

I challenge anyone to make a more solid case for making this world a better place

factual, inspiring, inviting, leading by example, excuses nor procrastination

Emil Möller
Inhabitant of a country like Denmark
PhD researcher on the subject

[Emil Möller]

------ f a n t a s t i c ------

I challenge anyone to make a more solid case for making this world a better place

factual, inspiring, inviting, leading by example, excuses nor procrastination

Emil Möller
Inhabitant of a country like Denmark
PhD researcher on the subject

[Yoriko Kishimoto]

The City of Palo Alto just had some visitors from Denmark this morning to talk about "Green Economy". I'd love for Palo Alto to be the test bed for ideas like this!

Yoriko Kishimoto, Palo Alto City Council (2007 Mayor)

[Thushara]

Great effort, as energy engineering student I appreciate your project. I add a post about your project on my blog.

[Patrick Leonard]

Hello,

The project better place is betting on pure electric vehicles whatever the distance, which implies a large cost and the monopolization of batteries production and raw materials. On the other hand plug-in hybrid vehicles limit the battery size to just enough to make the daily commute distances and thus spread the battery production and raw materials on more cars. Even if it is true that plug-in hybrids still need a little of gasoline, or better E85, to do the rare longer distance driving, isn't that a better option to fast change over all the cars on the planet instead of just the ones in two or three countries?
This doesn't mean Project better place is a bad idea in the long run, but I just fear it may hurt the global arrival of shorter-term plug-in hybrids, which would then be counter productive on global environmental effects.

Sincerely yours

Patrick Leonard

[Donna]

Great job!!

[Emil Möller]

Patrick Leonard raises an interesting issue:

what path delivers most quickly and broadly lower emissions, lower consumption of fuels as well as lower usage of other materials?

imo a life cycle analysis (LCA), a total cost of ownership (TCO), an energy return on investment (EROI) and an index of all so far externalized cost of all options would be expedient

this would forward our common cause

Emil Möller

[Efried]

Hi,
love the approach and it seems to condense in reality now. Allow me to invite to take into consideration problems we have seen in the past.
Looking forward to a system which will work without mechanised change of batteries. What about combining build in batteries and flow batteries which may be filled quickly?

cheers

[Ari]

If it’s not to bother pleas contact me regarding better place project.

Regards,

Ari

[Jay Rosenberg]

A high efficiency 4 seater, 150 MPG Auto, (“HEA”) with reasonable creature comforts is a better solution. If the average car’s MPG goes from a healthy 35 to 150 MPG, you would save 76% on fuel, and more than that on pollution reduction. HEA/ hybrids would have “unlimited” range, and could recharge overnight, during work, shopping, or other interludes. HEAs would not be electrically strapped, and society would not have to foot major investments to support costly Mono-EV infrastructure and transformation. HEA’s have very compact multifueled) high efficiency engines which can run sweetly on biofuel. HEA would bring a seamless, immediately economically beneficial transition to the users, and they would cost LESS than traditional auto’s: EV, or combustion. The problem is, cars would become a commodity like dishwashers, refrigerators, or PCs, and that would upset a trillion dollars of auto related industry: heavy manufacturing, sales, repairs, maintenance, gobs of fuels. HEA would last at least twice that of today’s vehicles, and that would save greatly on depreciation (loss of assets) and also half or more reduce the resources used to build these chariots. Why destructively recycle a car, when it can be built to last longer? We can do high efficiency, environmentally and pocket book friendly vehicles right now. HEA’s benefits are exponentially positive. For example, 10 gallons of waste cooking oil, or harvested from one backyard tree, could propel you 1,000 miles. Or, one acre of sunflowers would produce 100 US gallons, or 15,000 miles of propulsion, plus valuable protein rich food stock. This would make developing and developed nations alike more self sufficient. I am engaged in commercializing the above paradigm [email protected].

[stefan]

Just for your synthesis, the idea, you deserve a Nobel prize. If you keep safe, you'll be winning multiple. I am at your feet and will work for you for nothing. The rationale is one thing, but your inspiration is highly contagious. Any more ideas about making the world a better place? Let's cure HIV/Aids too, and narrow the gap, empower the masses and credit the visionary.. You seem like a very nice person. Keep showing people what you re made of!

[Louise Pape]

We are impressed with your vision. Of course we must start getting to zero emissions, not allowing our earth's systems to collapse while we aim for goals so low they are useless. Please go to www.ClimateToday.org- our news service on April 10 quoted your speech and compared you with others who think 30% by 2050 is ok! Anyone can sign up for the free newsletter. Let us know if you want free publicity!

[John Mittendorf]

I find it disturbing to read about the descent in relation of the current paradigm as it stands in a fuel flooded market, and how we should ease into it; this is bondage, and the whole purpose is to break free… else it would not be a paradigm. The freedom itself will empower myriad opportunities for the inclined, as if you are otherwise you don’t see the potential and are not yet capable of realizing the complete benefit, or you are vested. Shai is not taking a shotgun approach, and has never advocated this in anything I’ve read; I think if Shai is successful in these chosen markets, there will be such gravity it will be undeniable. If you think of everything you care about, will PBC not empower that, or at the least precipitate a catalyst? This may seem corny… but I believe it to be true.

[A Lynch]

When you are done solving the world's auto problem how about tackling the USA's train problem?

[TedinFortMyers]

Don't let the USA br the last to benefit from your organization. TED

[MH]

Any thoughts on the new Nanowire Battery. 10x capacity improvement over LI-ION. Could extend your effective range if usable in cars? If you're targeting 200 miles per charge with today's technology, how about 2000+ miles per charge? Would be nice.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071219103105.htm

[Peter Oppewall]

This is excellent progress, and Denmark is certainly both a wise choice and fortunate to have your help.

I understand you are participating in the "Enabling Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Markets 2008" coming up on May 28-29 in Detroit.

I'm interested to know if the problem of building a national support infrastructure for EV's in the US will addressed at this conference?

I understand that Project Better Place has been using the "island" approach to building infrastructure in Israel and Denmark. The US presents a different set of parameters.

In particular I'm curious to know if truck stop electrification will be considered and discussed as a possible way to address this problem?

For more background on the current development of EV recharging infrastructure in the US please visit

http://EvtransPortal.com/cerip.html

Kind Regards,
Peter Oppewall
Editor, EvtransPortal.com

[John Lewis Mealer]

Hello All,
Having listened to Shai Agassi and what you might consider as old news, my current search for investors to support and boost my Green Engineering company, I've been recharged.

I may be low-tech by anyone's standards with my funding search presentations and such, but my drive to succeed with Mealer American Motor Co., has been recharged beyond day one.
Thank you Shai Agassi!

Whether his success by being in the right place at the right time or the shared drive to succeed, he offers great inspiration.
I like to believe in my plan and my Green vehicle and other items of future manufacture and I know they work beyond what the EV crowd desires.. But Shai Agassi seems to talk about the leap in a way that makes me hope I am caught very soon. Even if I am not, it has been 15 years int he making and I will stand up, dust myself off and do it all over again.
At 40, the rolling and taking it in the face over and over again is getting tough, but I am doing this for the world and I'll go to my grave trying.

Okay, my rant is about done, but hey...
Send sdomeone my way, please... This is for the good of people not my bank account.

John Lewis Mealer, Founding President
The Mealer Companies,
Mealer American Motor Co.
Stepping Stone Homes, LLC.
http://www.betterconstructed.com

[Frank Terp]

Taking advantage of the newly introduced tax-exemption on registration on EV's in Denmark running untill 2012 will be vital to the success in Denmark.

During passing of the bill, the ministry commented that the bill would have no fiscal consequences, as technologically there will be no commercially relevant EV's on the market by 2011.

Hence, the support by the Danish government by way of the bill seems questionable.

Should you manage to market EV's for registration in DK before the end of 2011 I will personally buy one, and I think so will thousands of others.

[friend_of_the_earth]

Shai:

I am sure you probably already thought of this, but, to do with the charging stations: one argument against EV's is the extra load imposed on the grid during varying peak-load conditions (such as after work, coming home, everyone plugs in their car at once, while turning on the lights, cooking, etc). This wreaks havoc with power utility control systems (causing brown-outs, and worse).

There is no reason these charging units could not be controlled by the power utilities (via data link to your company). Thus, during conditions of high load on the grid, charging could be multiplexed between chargers, or cut off for short periods to stabilize load, making these EV's into a low-peak-impact source of extra income for the power company. Customers could set the charging parameters (estimated hours/charge) when they park. A limited number of "fast charge" cycles could be available per month (more with a small surcharge). In conditions of overnight charging, off-peak power can be used, stabilizing the load on the grid. This provides an answer to the *long-tail-pipe* argument.

When combined with an customer *environmental education program*, this could really help sell the idea of your EV's to the power utilities, governments, and to your future customers. I am one of those future customers (in Canada, so looking forward to this in the nearest-possible future).