Renault’s first passenger electric car will soon be on our roads – making its debut in Israel in the first half of 2011.

According to Israel 21C, the introduction of the Fluence ZE five-seater marks nearly two years of development effort in creating the world's first mass market zero-emission vehicle with switchable battery. It is being imported and distributed by Better Place, the clean-transport company set up by Israel entrepreneur Shai Agassi. The firm is planning to market elective vehicles (EVs) internationally. Better Place and Renault are committed to a volume of at least 100,000 vehicles for Israel and Denmark by 2016, under the terms of a new agreement, and the UK could be soon after.