First, I will start with the disclosure:

Better Place, the electric car charging company founded by SAP alum Shai Agassi, has always seemed impractical to me for a number of reasons. Automakers don't like it, consumers would find it more expensive, and battery swapping is just too wacky for daily use. But there are other reasons. The company's best asset seems to be an ability to charm elected public officials and glossy magazine editors. A lot of people have disagreed and, believe me, I've been wrong before. But I thrive on hatred so keep those emails coming.

With that in mind, it's interesting to look at what the company said a year ago and what is occuring now. Last December, after the world had settled into its economic turmoil, Better Place Israel CEO Moshe Kaplinsky told Reuters it would have 10,000 charging stations in that country this year.

"About 10,000 charge spots will be installed in 2009 across Israel, and that will increase to 100,000 by 2010. Electric cars will not be sold en masse in Israel until 2011, Kaplinsky said."

I don't know how many are in Israel at the moment, but this article, from October, says 20 have been erected in Jerusalem.

Then, today's The New York Times points out that the charging stations for Denmark don't seem to be all there yet:

"In January 2009, Mr. Agassi promised that Denmark would have 100,000 charging spots in place and several thousand cars on the road by 2010. But with that deadline approaching, no Better Place cars are on the road and only 55 charging spots are ready.

"According to Better Place, 2011 has always been the target for its mass debut, and that has not slipped. The company plans a road test of electric cars during the climate conference."

Mass rollout of the cars in these two initial markets isn't due for more than a year, but the construction of the stations may have fallen behind a bit. Some stores have also begun to offer free charging for electric cars, which potentially dents the attractiveness of trying to sell power to consumers. I have calls into Better Place to find out more on that.