The progressively-minded City by the Bay is making a major commitment to kick-starting widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the US with the approval of a $1 billion plan to build a network of 250,000 charging ports and 200 battery-exchange stations managed by a control center. Palo-Alto startup Better Place is building out the car-charging network with approvals from the three San Francisco city mayors and, amazingly, plans to have the entire system operational by 2012. Taxpayers won't be burdened with the high price tag, as the funding will be provided via incentive plans to companies who install the chargers. A unique solution is also in place to handle the catch-22 problem of ensuring there are enough electric car owners to even make use of the system. Better Place is working with Renault-Nissan to take a similar approach to electric car distribution that cell phone carriers use to distribute phones; users would subscribe to accrue a specific mileage in return for getting an electric car at a discount price, while Better Place would continue to own the electric battery throughout the car's life cycle.

The big question on everybody's mind is: Will it work? 2012 seems awfully soon to achieve the glorious electric transportation revolution. Still, with similar systems already working in parts of Europe, and a new administration about to take power in the US with stated commitments to pursuing clean energy goals, the concept no longer seems like total science fiction.

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