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Better Place EV Battery Swap business goes bust

It seemed like a good idea: take the cost of batteries out of the cost of buying an electric car and instead charge EV owners to use ‘Battery Swap’ stations where depleted batteries could be swapped for fully charged ones in the time it takes to fill an ICE car with petrol. But it’s all gone a bit Pete Tong. Better Place – which partnered with Renault in 2009 to make the battery swap technology viable – has failed to find anyone to add to the $750 million already involved in the project and has filed for bankruptcy.

BMW reveals long waiting list for new i3 electric car - just for a test drive

BMW BMW's new i3 electric car is proving so popular, punters are having to wait several months just for a test drive. This extraordinary detail was revealed last night by Ian Robertson, the company's global marketing chief (pictured above left, alongside the BMW i3 in London). Normally, test drive requests for a conventional petrol or diesel car are fulfilled on the same day when you visit a new-car showroom.

New Opel/Vauxhall Astra saloon revealed – but not for the UK

The new Astra with a boot has been revealed but it’s not heading for the UK. It will, however, be offered in Germany and Spain. The hatchback has taken over the car world in recent years when it comes to family cars (although we could see the crossover / compact SUV supplant it before long), which has meant the demise of the traditional saloon, certainly in the UK market.