AIMS: Better Place, GE, Renault team up at AIMS

Better Place, Gneral Electric and Renault Australia announced a series of strategic moves the group says will help more Australians access electric vehicle technology at the Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) in Melbourne.

Among the announcements, GE will purchase at least 1000 electric vehicles in Australia by 2015, the decision part of the company's global commitment to buy 25,000 EVs worldwide.

"GE is a strong supporter of electric vehicles. In November 2010, we committed to purchasing 25,000 electric vehicles globally by 2015, the largest-ever single electric vehicle commitment. In Australia, this means we will buy at least 1000 electric vehicles by that time," explained GE's director of ecomagination, Ben Water.

"We make technology that touches every point of the electric vehicle infrastructure, and we are embracing the transformation with partners like Better Place, with whom we have signed a local Memorandum of Understanding in extension of our global partnership announced last year.

"Together Better Place and GE  aim to move electric vehicles from anticipation to action. We look forward to being an early adopter of electric vehicles in this country."

The decision was backed by Renault Australia, who unveiled its Fluence ZE last week. The Fluence ZE is the world's first EV with unlimited range, thanks to battery switching technology.

"Renault Australia is proud to be able to reveal the Fluence ZE sedan at AIMS today. This is a major milestone for Renault in Australia, as well as for the future of motoring here," said Renault Australia managing director, Justin Hocevar.

"Our parent company, Renault SA, has been working closely with Better Place for some time to make battery switch technology a reality in order that we may provide unlimited driving possibilities with zero emissions.

"The combination of the five-seat, family-friendly Renault Fluence ZE and the Better Place charge spot network and battery switch stations brings electric motoring within the reach of a large proportion of the Australian driving public, and at an affordable price."

Better Place Australia said today's statements from GE and Renault is the culmination of weeks of work that clearly demonstrates the possibility of a transition to mass-market cars in Australia.

"Better Place has announced a national rollout of our charge network, powered by 100 per cent renewable energy," said Better Place Australia CEO, Evan Thornley.

"Two weeks ago Renault announced it would bring the Fluence ZE, the first electric car with unlimited range, to Australia. Earlier this week GE announced it was joining EV Engineering Limited, a project designed to advance Australian electric car engineering... It is clear that the transition to electric vehicles in Australia has momentum, and it is accelerating.

"Zero-emissions electric cars are now a real choice for Australians as we begin the mass transition from petrol to electric, with appealing cars and a comprehensive charge network that delivers convenience and affordability to customers that is equal to or better than petrol.

"The transition begins with Better Place's national charge network rollout which starts from Canberra later this year."

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