Israel to study feasibility of electric cars at military borders

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is set to study and evaluate feasibility of using electric cars at military borders, as part of a programme aimed to maximise energy efficiency while reducing environmental impact.

Scheduled to begin this month, the pilot programme will include assessing the electric vehicle’s efficiency by eight officers, readiness of the infrastructure and potential for integrating into its fleet.

Major IDF bases as well as participating officer’s homes will be deployed with free temporary charging stations, while the IDF will conduct the initiative in cooperation with Better Place by leveraging its electric vehicle technology and infrastructure.

Logistical Equipment Department Passenger Vehicle Section head major Ilan Bitan said, "Every small vehicle change has the potential to bring greater efficiency and savings."

Capable of reducing fuel consumption, the electric vehicles do not require oil changes and need reduced maintenance cost.

Technology and Logistics Branch head Major General Kobi Barak had ordered Logistical Equipment Department to deliver another round of hybrid vehicle rentals including manual-transmission and diesel vehicles for high-ranking officers.

About 4,500 hybrid vehicles will be leased by the Army in the new pilot programme.

Israel also initiated the Hybrid Vehicle Pilot programme and has been testing energy-efficient vehicles since September 2012.

As part of the programme, IDF colonels received ten hybrid vehicles to keep them for a full year and since then the cars have used 41% less gasoline when compared to standard vehicles.