[petra]

Battery swapping could have been a good idea, if instead of telling a story:"We'll replace all the cars in the world, we are already talking with heads of state", they've said:"As a first step, let's concentrate on a small niche best fitting for battery swapping, like Taxis[1], Build a network/business, and expand from that".

[1]Taxis drive a lot, so the savings from battery swapping are much more compelling compared to the car costs. And many taxis drive only within city range, so no range anxiety.

[Animats]

Battery swapping was a bet against battery energy density improving to the point that battery swapping wasn't needed. Turned out to be a losing bet.

For how Better Place blew it, see the Wikipedia article.