Better Place assigned a patent for system for connecting batteries to electric vehicles

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "The connection system is designed to facilitate electrical and data connections between the battery and the electric vehicle. The connectors are designed with alignment mechanisms to account for initial misalignment of the battery and vehicle while still ensuring positive contact between them. The alignment mechanisms also introduce compliance into the system to ensure that the mechanical components of the system are not placed under unwanted loads or stresses. The connection system houses data connectors carrying communication signals as well as power connectors carrying high voltage electricity. The data connectors are shielded to prevent interference caused by proximity to the high voltage elements. The connection system uses no mechanical latching or locking mechanisms."

The electric car company Better Place has unveiled its first showroom in Israel, in preparation for the sale of electric cars to retail customers. At its demonstration center near Glilot Junction north of Tel Aviv, Better Place will show three models of the Renault Fluence ZE, outfitted with Better Place’s battery and electric engine instead of a conventional fuel tank and internal combustion engine.

A cutaway model of an electric car will also be on display. Brochures available in the showroom urge potential customers to buy an electric car because it’s "worthwhile economically." But the various subscription plans do not offer much savings over hybrid cars or even the more thrifty models of traditional gasoline-fueled vehicles.

The patent application was filed on Sept. 18, 2009 (12/563,107). The full-text of the patent can be found at

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=7993155.PN.&OS=PN/7993155&RS=PN/7993155