"Battery switchable" is the key. In Australia, Better Place already offers annual subscriptions - drivers pay to link into its charging network, at a cost of $25 a week. For that, you get a charge point at your home or office and all your renewable energy to charge your car - up to 15,000 kilometres a year. At the moment the only fully electric available in Australia, is the the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. But the i-MiEV does not have a switchable battery, and a run-down battery takes time to recharge. So it's less practical for long-haul trips, giving a petrol engine a distinct advantage.