Israel vows to introduce electric cars by 2011

updated 10:14 a.m. CT, Tues., Jan. 22, 2008

JERUSALEM - Israel’s government on Monday endorsed the ambitious plan of a private entrepreneur to install the world’s first electric car network here by 2011, with half a million recharging stations to crisscross the tiny nation.

Supporters hailed the undertaking as a bold step in the battle against global warming and energy dependency, but skeptics warned that much could still go wrong along the way.

In a signing ceremony with the Renault-Nissan Alliance _ under the slogan “Transportation without fuel, making peace between transportation and the environment” _ Israel’s leaders pledged to provide tax incentives to customers to make Israel’s cars fuel-free.

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