EVs charging at the Better Place visitor centre at the Pi-Glilot former gas depot in Ramat Hasharon, Israel, north of Tel Aviv. Photo: Bardak.

The American-Israeli green technology startup Better Place Inc. is set to unveil its latest battery exchange station at Kibbutz Eilot near the southern Israeli city of Eilat, according to Globes.

Started in 2007, Better Place was the vision of Israeli entrepreneur Shai Agassi. It seeks to increase the global use of electric cars by constructing battery exchange networks to enable drivers to overcome limitations in the battery life of electric cars. In less than five minutes, a vehicle can have its battery swapped out for a fully recharged one.

In 2009, Better Place partnered with carmaker Renault-Nissan to construct the electric cars. Better Place chose Israel and Denmark to be its first customers due to their small size and high fuel prices.

The completion of the station near Eilat will now enable Israeli electric car drivers to travel anywhere in the country. “This is a milestone for the company, and especially for our first customers, who were partners in the vision,” said Better Place CEO Moshe Kaplinsky.