Better Place: Charging into the Future? (pdf abstract)
Purchase the full report on Global Lens (Case study #1-428-946) – published 05/2010, 26 pages
By: Arie Jongejan Erb ’10, James Boomis, Ann Racek, Justin Turner, and Brian Van Abel / Andrew Hoffman, Faculty Advisor
Description: With partnerships and developments in nations across the globe, Better Place seemed poised to succeed in the burgeoning electric vehicle market. Yet Better Place’s proposition relied on a revolutionary shift in the automobile industry. Would the company witness the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the near future, or would competing technologies, environmental regulation, financial considerations, or other players in the electric vehicle market thwart Shai Agassi’s plans?
Teaching Note: None
Teaching Points: After discussing this case study, students will be able to
- describe the electric vehicle market,
- assess the business model of a Better Place in the market,
- describe the impact each of these factors has on the success of Better Place: competing technologies, environmental regulation, financial considerations, and other players in the electric vehicle market.
Key Topics:
- Business and Society
- Consumer Products
- Developed Markets / Advanced Economies
- Energy and Utilities
- Entrepreneurship
- Environmental Sustainability
- International Business
- Multinational Enterprises (MNEs)
- Public-private partnerships
- Social Enterprise & Entrepreneurship
- Strategic Management