Recently, the Danish government’s biennial design competition, INDEX: Award 2009, celebrated examples of design to improve life. The award accepts nominations internationally, and ultimately 6 winners are selected to represent 5 award categories – Body, Home, Work, Play and Community.

Image credit: Getty Images, Cocoip/Flickr
Wired magazine points out that Tokyo is planning to test out a new electric vehicle program with its fleet of taxis. By January, a small test group of taxis will be part of a battery swap system created by Better Place.
Rather than tether cars to an outlet, vehicles recharge by swapping out batteries at special charging stations. The benefit of using taxis allows for a centralized base of operations built by Better Place.
To see how the battery swap functions, watch the minute long video below:

While many of us have marveled at the pay-for-your-car-by-paying-for-the power project called Better Place, Ben Jervey, writing in he Transport issue of Good Magazine, wonders if the service the start-up offers is really the best option. He says that there are a few “obvious” problems that will inhibit the growth of Better Place:
* Consumer-choice – not enough options when the project goes live (and the Hawaiian governor wanted convertibles!).
* Location of recharge-stations – the company will have a tough time persuading gas station owners and franchisees to take a risk on a long term investment
* Proprietary technology – people will [...]