NETANYA, Israel — Pure play foundry Tower Semiconductor (Migdal Hemek, Israel) is set to participate in the Israeli electric car venture Project Better Place, according to a report in the Israeli newspaper Globes .

According to the report, Tower is expected to develop the controlling processor, which will include non-volatile memory. The component regulates the transfer of power from the batteries to the wheels and between the motors and sensors in the car, among other functions.

Globes also notes another potential customer for Tower's automotive component could be the joint car project by Israel Corp. and Chinese automaker Chery. According to reports, Israel Corp. will take a 45 percent stake in the venture, worth about $225 million, with Chery presumably taking the other 55 percent.

Project Better Place will focus on building out an infrastructure of battery-charging stations for electric vehicles. The comparative model offered is that of mobile phone companies building out the mobile infrastructure. The aim is to cooperate with car and battery makers like Renault in a way that subscribers to the electric car network will get subsidized cars, but will still own their vehicles. Project Better Place expects the first wave within the pilot countries to begin in early 2008, broadening to a few thousands of cars by 2009 with the expectation to put approximately 10,000 cars on the system per month in 2010 for a total of approximately 100,000 cars on the system in each pilot site by the end of 2010. It has recently been reported that five charging points will be built initially in Tel-Aviv, and once the project is completed there will be 150 points in city car parks, outside public buildings, and on city streets.