Project Better Place

• Open Forum

Let's review and enhance the innovative Project Better Place business model:
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For the first time in the electric vehicle business, ownership of the car is separated from the requirement to own a battery. Consumers will buy and own their car and subscribe to energy, including the use of the battery, on a basis of kilometers driven. This model is similar to the way mobile phones are sold, with an initial purchase and a monthly subscription for the mobility service.
 
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In my opinion - similar to the mentioned mobile phones - you need to give people the opportunity to buy non-subsidized cars and allow the opportunity to recharge the battery by your own. The advantages for the consumers are:
- Freedom to choose your ("green") energy supplier
- Personal recharging during the night avoids peak loads and allows overall access to cheaper energy
 
The disadvantage is that it cannibalizes on the existing, already developed model and negatively affects the bottom line. But I would personally expect that 'project better place' moves into that direction and enhances the current business model. The opportunities that I see is forging alliances with energy suppliers, allowing this specific ‘EV user group’ good charging conditions during night hours etc. This would give consumers the real freedom to choose, getting rid of oil as well as avoiding to get into another dependency of ‘one battery supplier only’.
 
Dear community, hope you help starting a good controversial discussion on that particular topic.
 
Best regards, Stefan