Could Segregated buses make a return in Israel, Eldan to start leasing Better Place Electric Cars in Israel in 2012, Tel Aviv's Rental Bike Service is Succeeding

Could Segregated buses make a return in Israel?

Israel has this week seen a conflict re-emerge over the issue of female segregation on buses.  The sexist policy requiring women to sit at the back of buses on certain routes in Israel was banned earlier this year.

In order to ensure that this law was enforced, campaigns have been carried out to ensure that women can choose to sit where they like on the bus.  However, the Haredi Community have hit back demanding the right to operate private bus lines where segregation would be enforced.



Eldan to start leasing Better Place Electric Cars in Israel in 2012

Better Place have signed an agreement with Eldan, Israel's largest rental car company to provide hundreds of Renault Fluence electric cars for the car rental market in Israel.  Better Place will also install the car charging operators for Eldan to widen the electric car infrastructure across Israel.



Tel Aviv's Rental Bike Service is Succeeding


Seven months after the launch of the Tel Aviv Bike Rental Scheme, over 13000 people have purchased an annual subscription, with about 5500 bikes being rented every day from the 141 rental stations across Tel Aviv.

It was announced this week that daily and weekly subscriptions would now be offered for casual users of the service.

A daily rental of a bike would be 16 Shekels and a weekly rental would cost 60 Shekels.  It will be possible to pay at the rental station by credit card.

An annual subscription is 240 Shekels for residents of Tel Aviv and 280 Shekels for non-residents.  An annual subscription can only be purchased at the Tel Aviv Muncipality or on the Tel-O-Fun website.

It is also expected that 50 further rental stations will open in the Tel Aviv suburbs.

Better Place launch first battery-swapping station in Israel

Better Place has launched its first battery-swapping station in Israel for electricity-powered cars the Jerusalem Post has reported.

 courtesy of jpost.com

The first battery-swapping station to be opened in Israel is located in Kiryat Ekron, near Rehovot.  This is the first part of the electricity-powered car network in Israel.  


Better Place expects the network to be fully operational in Israel by the end of 2011.  The network will include 40 battery-swapping station, of which a further 9 are expected to open shortly.  There will also be thousands of charging spots for cars.

New Acre to Karmiel Railway and more on Electric Cars in Israel - Thursday 17 March 2011

New Acre to Karmiel Railway


Israel Katz the Transport Minister of Israel launched a new tender to the proposed railway line between Acre and Karmiel in northern Israel, which will be managed by the National Roads Company.   The closing date for bids will be 21 June 2011.  This will be a double railway, 23 miles in length with two stations along the route one at Ahihud and at the entrance to Karmiel.

Proposed map between Acre and Karmiel

a proposed station at Ahihud

This is part of the proposed travel plan to better link the northern periphery of Israel to the center of the country.




Better Place in Israel

There is an interesting article about how the Better Car Electric Car's will work in Israel at frumforum.

Israel wants more electric cars, More cars hit the Jerusalem Tram and Gasoline Prices to rise again - Thursday 24th February 2011

Israel wants more electric cars


Uzi Landau - the National Infrastructure Minister in Israel - has said that it is a mission of Israel  to create an "open, competitive and safe market (for electric cars) that will meet international standards and place the consumer in the center."  The Minister is looking for their to be other suppliers of electric cars as well as the Israeli company Better Place, acccording to Globes.




More cars hit the Jerusalem Tram

In two seperate incidents yesterday the Jerusalem Post reports cars jumped the traffic lights in Jerusalem on and hit trains which were being tested on the new light rail line Jerusalem. This follows an earlier crash this month.  City Pass have said this is the second incident during testing as a resulting of drivers jumping red lights.
 

EL AL Staff

Globes is reporting that EL AL and the Histadrut Union have agreed improved conditions for their employees.
 

Gasoline Prices in Israel

Despite the decision of the  Government in Israel to reduce the tax on gasline prices this month, Israeli motorists are likely to be hit by rising petrol prices again in March.  Haaretz is reporting that as a result of the instability in Libya the price of oil has increased which is likely to push prices up by 2.5% in March.