5th graders - continued

As you may have seen on this blog, when we announced the launch of Project Better Place in NY back in October, my son told me that I really need to explain the story so that a 5th grader can understand it. That led to a presentation I gave at Hillbrook School in our hometown of Los Gatos, in front of the 4th-8th graders (and another one with the 2nd graders). While, explaining to kids is a challenge for us adults, I find it amazing that kids can explain complex issues to adults in a very simple way...

So, when Google issued a World Economic Forum challenged called "what can you do to make the world a Better Place?" we figured out that we should use kids to explain it the way it is...and thus, from the creative minds of Steven and Michael Addis comes the following 3 minute submission to the "Davos Challenge" on YouTube.

We figured out that if we don't win a competition called Better Place with a project called Better Place, something must be rigged in the voting algorithm...

Comments

[Oded Roth]

Shai,

I would recommend you reading the book “Aramis or the Love of Technology”, by Bruno Latour.

It is a very interesting book that was written by a French sociologist about a trial to develop disrupting transportation concept in the 1970’s. The concept known well as Personal Rapid Transit was developed quite successfully by a modest team of French engineers and was supported by the French government.

The main problem that impedes the implementation of this marvelous idea up today is social more than technological. The common ground to the PRT idea and yours is the trial to attack transportation problem from the infrastructure front rather than the car technology, you are deep in a social and political start-up.

[Amir Idan]

Awesome video! I love it

[Niv Zohar Horovitz]

its not about talking but its about doing that makes the different for me the doing is about creating public awareness and demand for solution’s am working on the national event that will make sustainability a common knowledge and a common goal. i admire the vision and i know that every new paradigm needs to go through the three phases. 1. Laughing at it. 2. Fighting it 3. Asking "how come nobody thought of that before?. I know better place is not about a product but it’s about the world of our children.

[Mark]

Will Project Better Place's infrastructure include vehicle-to-grid (V2G) features as well?

[Amit Nisenbaum]

It seems that this is the case Mark, V2G is presented as part of the vision in every presentation. It completely makes sense as not doing it is “leaving money on the table”. V2Gs two main advantages are utilization of the access production capacity (which every electric company is required to produce in order to ensure quality of service) and backup functionality at peak times. Both of these advantages have monetary value to the electricity companies and hence have value to their customers, the Electrical Recharge Grid Operators (ERGOs), in terms of monetary kick-backs. As such, V2G should be part of the business model.

However, implementing V2G is very complex. Think about the complexity of ensuring quality of service to the car owners for instance. Here is one scenario, noon of a typical Texas summer and the electricity company reaches near full production utilization (AC driven). This is the time to utilize the V2G functionality. However, mid-day is also the time when drivers need their vehicles the most. There is a crucial need for five zeros assurance that no vehicle that is plugged to the grid will be left with juice. This is tricky but this also where PBP core competencies seem to reside, SW development and system integration. So as Niv said, its time to stop talking and start doing. There is a lot of work to do.

[Cristian Laverde Koenig]

Dear Mr. Shai Agassi,

Please accept my humble congratulations on all the achievements till this day. I am pleased to find out about Project Better Place and see that there are people out there taking action. Maybe you would consider joining forces with Mr. Al Gore??
I humbly want to contribute with some information I came across with and I think, if we are serious about "going green", can not ignore. I am talking about: "Surge Electric Motors". This is a motor that actually generates energy as suppose to using it. It is powered only by permanent magnets which have a magnetic live of about 400 years. They can power a house or a building and of course an Electric Car. This would eliminate completely the old problem of recharging, which eliminates of course the problem of range and charging stations availability. So, there are many ideas that come to mind when you think about that: You can use these as generators at home where they can run all the electric needs of a house, even charging your electric car's batteries; they can be the generators at a charging station (if you can not use solar or even if you can); or you can get rid of the battery on an electric car and power it with one of this generators, or recharged the batteries as you go; but the ultimate idea would be, they can be the actual propulsion of a car if combined with a transmission system and, for all that matters, these cars could be your electric generator while parking at home.
I think that there is a lot of focus put into cars as the pollution problem but the truth is that they are the cause of only 21% of it (as estimated on Project Better Place’s video). The other 79% is what we really should focus on if we want to be true on "going green". If we start putting electric cars out there, what we really need to think is how are we going to produce the energy to powered them.
I’ve got a few links with information about some companies and people whom already work with “Surge Electrical Motors”, I invite you to have a look: www.gammamanager.com ; www.kbmorgan.com/marsmission/marsbull/bull326.htm ; www.cycclone.com ; www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt5z8L4LBJE&NR=1 ; www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDeXTXYFKAY&feature=related ; www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu8LaVH-pn0&feature=related
Thank you for your amazing contribution to solving these problem, I hope things keep escalating for Project Better Place. Best of luck.

[Pinchas]

Mr. Agassi-
I read with much interest the articles in the media such as that in msnbc.com http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22783747/
your bold, ambitious and sensible plan to install the first electric car network in oil-free Israel. However, I was disappointed and surprised that none of the plans seemed to include solar-powered options such as the rooftop photovoltaic solar cells featured with the Fisker Karma. See weblinks below: http://www.fiskerautomotive.com/vehicles/downloads/If
http://www.finecars.cc/en/editorial/article/news/fisker-karma-first-ever-luxury-plug-in-hybrid/index.html?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[backPid]=224&cHash=e2137ba0ee
there is one endless energy resource that Israel has - it is sunlight. I think that it would behoove you to definitely consider electric cars with solar-powering options in Israel's move to an electric car infrastructure. These Rootop photovoltaic solar panels seem to be the easiest option for right now- but there are many solar cell technologies out there. There are many websites with information on this topic.
All in all, I think that with your initiative Israel can and will be a leader in the post fossil-fuel world. Thank you for leading this critical effort on behalf of Israel and the world. I hope that especially as China continues to move from the bicycle to the automobile - they will keep a close eye on this project. Please bear in mind that Israel must consider the disposal issues related to lithium-ion batteries. Lithiated metal phosophate will probably be recommended for the cars b/c of their safety- but unfortunately only hold 75% as much energy. Wikipedia's article on Lithium Ion batteries reports exciting new breakthroughs in battery technology using silicion nanowires.

Best of Luck.
Pinchas

[Alexander Lethen]

Dear Shai, I am very intrigued by your venture. Which leads my to my question: how do I volunteer my country to be next in line? In terms of funding: this should never be a problem. I am even considering a 'grass root' funding model, backed up by a consortium. Ambitiously stating, let's take Belgium, Netherlands or Denmark (densily populated), let's assume 5M cars. If every driver contributes $100 (in return for equity), this equites to $500M. Let me know how to volunteer my country. Cheers, Alex

[Moshe Goffer]

Dear Shai
I am representing the Israeli Magnesium Users' Association
We are a group of companies and academics that are dedicated to the use of Magnesium alloy in variety of industries and use.
We are interested to join forces and to work together by using our knowledge and
Know- how in Magnesium technology we can contribute to reduction of weight
in the Electric Car
Among our members: Alubin, Ortal, cabiran ,Palbam ,Rafael ,IAI ,Technion metal institute ,BG university and others
We would like to invite you as a key speaker to one of our conferences
Please let me know if you could participate
Thanks in advance
Moshe Goffer
+972-50-5245836

[G Daniel Prigmore]

Certain islands, including say some of the Bahamas, use golf carts for transportion and are dependent on relatively inefficient fossil fuel plans for electricity.
Electric golf carts are proven and available technology, both wind and sun are abundant.
Do you think your systems approach can be scaled to apply to wind & solar combined with a conversion to electric golf carts to apply to these island economies?

Thanks, Dan