Zoomi Life

In July, we talked about the new models that Renault has planned as electrics and hinted at a forthcoming deal that appeared imminent at that time between the car maker and Better Place. Nobody could have guessed how huge that deal would be, though. Least of all me.

Read More: Renault, Better Place, and the 100,000 Electric Vehicle Order

The Japanese government and the city of Tokyo, Japan are teaming with Better Place to test the viability of electric taxi cabs in the city. These taxis are slated to hit the roads as early as January and will utilize Better Place’s battery-swapping system to keep the taxis running 24/7.

Read More: Tokyo Testing Electric Taxis

Renault has announced that they’ll be unveiling three new electric vehicles at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show this September. One is the production-ready Fluence (Megane) EV (above) and the Kangoo EV (both slated for a 2011 release) while the third is a concept yet to be unveiled and expected to hit the market in 2012.

Read More: Renault’s 3 New Electric Cars (+video), Swappable Batteries, and Better Place

A lot of exciting news has happened regarding corporate partnerships and alliances over the past week or so. Volkswagen and BYD, Daimler and Tesla, and others. Car makers are entering the new era of auto manufacturing by taking a lesson from the tech sector: you can’t do it all alone anymore.

Read More: BYD Gains VW As Partner, Ford May Follow - Other Partnerships Also In the Works

According to the April 30 issue of The Economist, Shai Agassi of Better Place is an “Electric Evangelist” with the ability to sway otherwise stodgy business people with religious zeal. They likened him to Steve Jobs of Apple.

Read More: Shai Agassi is Today’s Steve Jobs and Better Place is Apple Computers

It’s not cheap at $500,000, but the battery swap station can swap out a dead battery on an EV in less time than it takes to pump a tank of gas, Better Place claims. This first prototype was unveiled in Japan a few days ago and is what Better Place hopes will be the first of thousands across the globe.

Read More: Video: Better Place’s New Electric Car Battery Swap Station In Action

EV-Charge America, located in Las Vegas, Nevada, is a provider and installer of electric vehicle infrastructure, including electric vehicle recharging stations and support equipment.

Read More: Spotlight: EV-Charge America - EV Charging Infrastructure Provider

General Motors, not satisfied with the billions in bailout funds the Bush administration lavished on them after their month-long begathon last year, has now called on major cities (especially San Francisco) to “become plug-in ready.”

Read More: GM Not Content With Bailout Money: Wants San Francisco to Pony Up Too

Better Place, the California-based electric vehicle infrastructure company that is currently building EV charging networks in California, Oregon, and Hawaii, has announced today that they have secured a round of financing to the tune of $133.8M to build an EV charging network in Denmark.

Read More: Better Place Secures $133.8M Financing for Danish EV Charging Network

Subaru has the R1e (Stella) all-electric car that they’ve been testing in New York, but haven’t announced any plans to sell yet. Many have wondered why they’re holding off. The answer may have been announced now: Subaru, Better Place, and the Japanese government have all come together to announce that they will be be teaming up to build an electric vehicle infrastructure in Japan, starting in Yokohama.

Read More: Subaru, Better Place, and Japan Team Up to Create Electric Vehicle Charging Network in Japan