Shai Agassi: A Better Model?

Climate One

News Commentary, Social Sciences, Earth Sciences, News, Science

4.7 • 583 Ratings

🗓️ 13 July 2010

⏱️ 66 minutes

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Summary

Shai Agassi: A Better Model? Founder and CEO, Better Place In conversation with Greg Dalton, Founder, Climate One INFORUM’s Next 21st Century Visionary Award Shai Agassi wants to tip a $3 trillion market – the market for miles. Agassi, the CEO and Founder of Better Place, said he plans to end oil’s stranglehold on the global economy by offering consumers access to miles in electric cars that will be cheaper,and more convenient, than the gasoline-powered cars they replace. Most large and startup automakers are scrambling to make electric cars but Better Place is taking a decidedly different, and risky, approach. It is partnering with Renault and China’s Chery to deliver electric cars with batteries that can be swapped at new robot-powered stations. By taking the battery out of the up-front purchase price and essentially leasing it to drivers as a monthly service, he aims to offer electric cars that are at least $3,000 to $5,000 less to purchase than a comparable gas car and will be cheaper to drive each mile. “The price of oil keeps going up, the price of batteries keeps going down, the life of batteries is improving,” Agassi said. A few cars are on the road now in Tokyo and dozens are slated to be tested in Israel later this year. Will battery swapping take off? Will it flop? Or will it be just another niche? Agassi forwards his bold vision for the arrival of electric cars for the mass market. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on July 12, 2010 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	There once was a woman who lived in a shoe. A size too snug, but what could she do? But that's not where her story ends. Thanks to a little help from her Experian friends, she got her score into much better shape and relocated to a box fresh new place, with room to grow and a mortgage to suit. Now, she lives in a spacious four-bedroom cowboy boots. Better your
0:23.7	Experian credit score to help get mortgage ready. Experian, better your score, better your story.
0:30.1	How will we power our future? Can we create a healthy and clean economy? Climate One at the
0:36.0	Commonwealth Club is at the forefront of the global debate about energy, economy, and the environment.
0:41.5	Bringing together the brightest and most provocative leaders of our time, Climate One is the place where big ideas get heard.
0:48.2	With thoughtful and insightful discussions on policy, business, science, and culture, Climate One founder Greg Dalton gets to the heart of the matter.
0:56.3	It's our future.
0:57.6	It's time to come together.
1:00.0	Welcome to Climate One and Forum,
1:01.6	the Young and Hip Division of the Commonwealth Club.
1:03.6	I'm Greg Dalton.
1:07.5	They told me not to shave for three days.
1:09.7	You're definitely young and hip right here.
1:11.6	You're getting at both, the full package.
1:13.7	My guest today is Shaya Gassi, CEO Better Place.
1:17.1	His ambition is to transform the international auto industry and reduce carbon pollution.
1:22.1	How?
1:22.8	By building a network of stations that charge and swap batteries for electric automobiles.
1:28.4	He's teamed up with an established car company, Renault Nissan, and an emerging automaker
1:33.0	Chi Ray from China.
1:35.2	And his firm recently received a $350 million investment from HSBC, Morgan Stanley, and
1:41.1	other investors.
	...

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