A "Better Place" in the Near Future?

Imagine standing on street corner in New York City.  Cars whiz by, only you can't hear them.  Why?  The cars whizzing by you are electric.  This may become reality if Shai Agassi has his way.  

Recently, CBS Sunday Morning  ran an article about Shai Agassi and his company, Better Place.  The company has three main goals that they have set out to accomplish:

1.  Get car companies to make cars that can use swappable electric batteries

2.  Convince governments to place charging stations throughout the country

3.  Build swapping stations for longer drives (basically an electric "gas-station")

These goals are extremely ambitious, but Agassi has managed to find investors willing to support his company and 25 countries willing to make the change.  Nearly $300 million has been invested in his company and Nissan and Renault are among the first car companies willing to produce the swappable electric cars.  

So far, this idea has come under major scrutiny.  The infrastructure overhaul that would be needed, is too much for many countries to handle.  For example, in the United States, there are millions of gasoline powered vehicles on the road.  It is going to take a very long time to switch and transition to the new electric cars.  Agassi's plans would also require most parking lots to add charging stations.  With the economy in its weakened state and government spending under scrutiny, attempting to invest large amounts into a new infrastructure may appear frivolous. 

One must be very optimistic in order to make such a plan succeed.  It seems as if all the forces of the world are going against this plan.  The oil companies are reluctant, the car companies are reluctant, and worst of all, the citizens will be reluctant.  There are some select supporters, but if Agassi plans to succeed, I believe he will need to spend more money educating the world.  "About nine out of ten people say it's crazy!" says Agassi.  When we finally realize the necessity of these actions, we may finally support this ambitious entrepreneur. 

By 2011, Israel, Denmark and Hawaii plan to have charging stations ready to try out with Nissan's prototype cars.  Only time will tell if this plan will be successful, but it is obviously a much needed step in the right direction.