Totaled: The Billion-Dollar Crash of the Startup That Took on Big Auto, Big Oil and the World
SKU: 49988678644

Totaled: The Billion-Dollar Crash of the Startup That Took on Big Auto, Big Oil and the World

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Totaled: The Billion-Dollar Crash of the Startup That Took on Big Auto, Big Oil and the WorldWhen a billion dollar electric car startup crashed and burned, global investors and average car buyers alike asked: What happened? Business and technology journalist Brian Blum reveals the answer in his new book TOTALED: The Billion Dollar Crash of the Startup that Took on Big Auto, Big Oil, and the World. The Tesla 3 has grabbed the spotlight as the first "affordable" all electric vehicle, but Israel's Better Place came first. The plan was to use

When a billion-dollar electric car startup crashed and burned, global investors and average car buyers alike asked: What happened? Business and technology journalist Brian Blum reveals the answer in his new book TOTALED: The Billion-Dollar Crash of the Startup that Took on Big Auto, Big Oil, and the World.

The Tesla 3 has grabbed the spotlight as the first "affordable" all-electric vehicle, but Israel's Better Place came first. The plan was to use Israel --- a country the size of New Jersey and dubbed "the Startup Nation" --- to prove electric cars could work everywhere. Instead of fast charge, Better Place addressed range anxiety by building a network of battery-swap stations --- operated by robots.

Better Place's charismatic CEO Shai Agassi believed his company's innovative technology could help stop climate change and free nations from the yoke of oil dependence. His magnetic television appearances, viral TED Talk and compelling boardroom presence had investors and business leaders worldwide jumping in to ride shotgun. Countries from Japan to Denmark to Australia signed on and the privately-held Better Place raised nearly a billion dollars.

Yet in a few years, it was all over --- the company, buffeted by internal strife, an international corporate spy scandal, the Great Recession and technology disruptions, went bankrupt.

The story of the "electric car unicorn that collapsed" is a cautionary tale; a timely case study filled with valuable lessons for entrepreneurs, investors and executives in businesses of all sizes --- as well as everyone chasing the electric car Holy Grail.

TOTALED lays out the story of what happens when change hits a company on multiple fronts, sometimes all at once. Do you double down and stay the course or pivot like your company's life depends on it?

TOTALED plunges deep into the riveting rise and fall of a company that sincerely wanted to change the world but couldn't quite get to the finish line. TOTALED will captivate you, whether you're interested in electric cars and mobility, green energy and the environment; or you simply enjoy reading business biographies.

TOTALED has received rave advance reviews from people like David Pogue, the former New York Times tech writer, who says that "Brian Blum's deeply researched account is like playing a car-wreck video in slow motion: You can watch every stroke of bad luck, bad timing, and bad blood reduce a once-thrilling idea to dust."

Gina Smith, author of iWoz, the New York Times best-selling biography of Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, writes that TOTALED grants access to "a side of the startup world that few ever get to see --- much less survive."

Ron Adner, author of The Wide Lens: What Successful Innovators See that Others Miss, describes TOTALED as "required reading for ambitious innovators."

And Foreword Reviews writes that Better Place CEO Shai Agassi is "as compelling an antihero as found in any technology thriller. The book's as-it-happens narrative makes for riveting reading."

More information at www.brianblum.com



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Blue Pepper Press
Published: 08/22/2017
ISBN: 9780983042815
Pages: 358
Weight: 1.16lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.80d

Review Citations: Foreword 08/26/2017
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SKU: 49988678644

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no pure white.
no pure white.
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suit
Size: 12, Color: Beige
Very nice suit set. size 12. seems to fit as expected. I love the quality. It does have multi colored thread, as it is not solid.
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Sway Alert!! This is a beautiful suite!
Color: Beige, Size: 5, Color: Beige, Size: 5
This suit fit great my son loved it. The quality is good. My son is five about 40 inches tall around 40 pounds. He’s very slim but the length was great. The suit jacket fit well. The pants waist were a little big, but the adjustable strap helped with that, but the fit overall was great . I would purchase a suit again in a different color.
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Great Looking Suit with Lightweight Material
Color: Light Grey, Size: 7
I got this for a beach wedding and it worked out really well. It looked nice without feeling too formal, which was perfect for the setting. The material is linen and it feels lightweight and breathable. It kept my kid comfortable in the heat and didn’t feel stiff or heavy like some dress suits do. The appearance is sharp. The double breasted style makes it look more dressed up, but the linen material keeps it relaxed and appropriate for outdoor events. The fit was true to size. It sat well without looking baggy or tight, and everything stayed in place throughout the event. Quality feels good for the price. The fabric and stitching don’t feel cheap, and it held up well after a full day of wear. Suitability is great for things like weddings, parties, or photos. It works especially well for warmer weather because of the material. For value, I think it’s worth it. You’re getting a nice looking suit with comfortable material that actually works in real situations. Overall, great fit, breathable material, and a clean look that works really well for events.
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Very nice linen suit for boys. Well worth the piece
Color: Beige, Size: 12
This JPF Double Breasted Linen Suit for Boys is the cutest thing I've ever seen! I got itt for my 8 year old and he loves it! He tried it on at soon as we received it and wore it all evening. Lol. He looks so grown up! He's about 4'3", about 75lbs. I ordered a size 12 and it fits him the way I'd expect it to. A bit big but he has room to grow into it. It is a 2 piece suit, with pants and blazer only. It's a summer suit, it's meant to have a more laid back, casual style. It is so nice! The style and color are identical to the photo. I got the beige color, that's the color my kid picked. I do worry a bit about staining, considering an 8 year old boy will be wearing it, but hopefully any stains will be easy to remove. The quality is excellent and the price isn't bad either. I highly recommend this suit
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