Shai Agassi’s Electric Dreams
It’s great when the car of the future is also the car of the past. Electric vehicles have existed since the 19h Century, but for numerous reasons have not been mass produced. Petrol companies have been in bed with car manufacturers and politicians for many years and this has hindered the rise of the electric car. But issues relating to battery and charging logistics have also plagued its popularity. There are many arguments for moving away from oil reliance, and many still have faith that electric cars will inevitably rule the roads. One man on this crusade is Shai Agassi, and here delivering the 2009 Alfred Deakin Eco-Innovation Lecture, he outlines how through smart business, improving technology and changing public policy, the revolution can commence.
Shai Agassi is the founder and CEO of Better Place, a company specializing in the global distribution of electric vehicles and services. He was recently included in TIME Magazine’s list of the one hundred most influential people for 2009.
