Shai Agassi: Zero-Emissions for Zero-Dollars

Hear superstar electric vehicle entrepreneur discuss, "How to Run An Entire Country Without Oil?"

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• electric+vehicles
• shai+agassi
• project+better+place
• +washington
• google.org
• miss+electric
• misselectric
• shannon
• arvizu
• www.misselectric.com

[ShannonArvizu]

You're right. PBP has the ultimate goal of having zero-emission transportation by connecting vehicles to a grid that is powered by non-carbon emitting sources. We have to remember that sustainability is a process. We will eventually get to "net-zero" energy, hopefully sooner rather than later.

[peebeebaynut]

Zero-Emissions? How about Emissions-Moved-From-Tailpipe-­To-Generator-Station instead? It's way more reality-based as 60% of the electricity in the US comes from burning coal, natural gas and oil while solar is used to make less than 1%. Where is the zero-emissions in that? Hydrogen is produced either from electricity (which implies burning fossil fuels) or reprocessing fossil fuels in ways that release carbon dioxide.

[ShannonArvizu]

Thanks for replying...you've brought up a common misconception about electric cars and I'd like to clarify the issues briefly. First, burning oil from your car causes far more carbon emissions than plugging in your car to a coal-based power plant. Second, electric cars go hand-in-hand with putting more renewable energy on the grid. Project Better Place is in the process of facilitating substantial solar power in places where they do business.

[SINSSTER]

@Already1have But is getting out of your car and refeulling it really that hard? Going on about not having to get out of the car, 60 second stops anyone would think taking a few minutes to pump gas is a horrible experience.

[Dandaniels1978]

The Jews do it yet again

[Already1have]

Better Place battery swap process is cleaner and faster than filling a tank with gasoline and the driver remains in the car the entire time. Electric cars with a contract with Better Place will have a virtually unlimited range because of battery swapping. Just look at the following picture and think of going through California with 60 second battery swaps:

betterplaceDOTcom

/uploads/ckfinder/images/Calif­orniaDeployment290x301.png

[fergus247]

@Already1have I dont understand

[Already1have]

@fergus247

Better Place with Renault Fluence ZE. Driving range UNLIMITED. Try that with The Tesla Roadster.

[Already1have]

Even if the Nissan LEAF fails because of less than 100 miles range (although priced at $20.000 w/CA tax breaks)

Even if the Chevy Volt fails because its priced among BMW, Lexus etc. (still using gasoline)

Better Place with Renault Fluence ZE will never fail, Business model rock solid. Driving range UNLIMITED!!

[d1oftwins]

I think the a good chunk of the costs comes from the batteries. Better Place has solved that problem by not selling the batteries but borrowing it to you. That way you don't have to worry about battery life time or wearing. So you don't pay for the batteries but for kilometeres or miles. That way the EVs get more affordable.

[d1oftwins]

Better place is mostly about establishing electric infrastructure for EVs, less building EVs. Renault will build EVs with exchangeable batteries for the exchange system Better Place has developed. It is a project as a whole to establish EVs NOT just another car manufacturer.