Worldfocus » Bruce Upbin http://worldfocus.org International News, Videos and Blogs Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:12:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en Israeli company builds infrastructure for world’s electric cars http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/02/09/israeli-company-builds-infrastructure-for-worlds-electric-cars/3977/ http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/02/09/israeli-company-builds-infrastructure-for-worlds-electric-cars/3977/#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:12:22 +0000 Worldfocus http://worldfocus.org/?p=3977 Israel launched an electric car program as part of a plan to end the country’s dependence on foreign oil. Of course by now, the idea of an electric car is not new. But it is still a challenge to produce enough of the vehicles and get them to travel far enough. Shai Agassi’s company, Better Place, is not just promoting electric cars but designing an entire system to service them, with battery charging stations. Many countries are expressing great interest.

Worldfocus special correspondent Michael Greenspan and producers Yuval Lion and Ara Ayer report from Israel.

Could Agassi’s plan work in larger countries like the U.S.? Watch an extended interview: Debate on the electric revolution of the auto industry.

One Israeli company is not just promoting the use of electric cars but designing an entire system to service them, with battery charging stations. Many countries are expressing great interest. /files/2009/02/th_israel_car.jpg /files/2009/02/th_israel_car.jpg ]]> http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/02/09/israeli-company-builds-infrastructure-for-worlds-electric-cars/3977/feed/ Debate on the electric revolution of the auto industry http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/02/09/debate-on-the-electric-revolution-of-the-auto-industry/3979/ http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/02/09/debate-on-the-electric-revolution-of-the-auto-industry/3979/#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:32:48 +0000 Worldfocus http://worldfocus.org/?p=3979 Better Place CEO and founder Shai Agassi wants to change the automotive industry by switching gas stations with battery replacement and charging stations for the next generation of electric cars. Although current plans include smaller areas like Hawaii, Israel, Denmark and San Francisco, Better Place aims at nothing short of an industry-transforming revolution. Will it be possible?

In this extended interview, Shai Agassi discusses his company’s plans and challenges.

Bruce Upbin, a managing editor at Forbes Magazine, comments on Better Place’s challenges and why the network may not work in the U.S.

Watch the Worldfocus signature story “Israeli company builds infrastructure for world’s electric cars,” which takes a look at the Agassi’s idea and plans to implement it in Israel.

Better Place founder Shai Agassi discusses some of the company’s challenges with commentary by Bruce Upbin, a managing editor at Forbes Magazine. /files/2009/02/th_car_shai.jpg /files/2009/02/th_car_shai.jpg ]]> http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/02/09/debate-on-the-electric-revolution-of-the-auto-industry/3979/feed/