Shai Agassi Uses Unique Combination of Power and Influence to Gain Support For Electric Automobiles Gasoline-powered cars may soon be a thing of the past in Israel, thanks in part to the efforts of Shai Agassi. Agassi was able to generate $200 million in venture capital funding and garner the support of Carlos Ghosan, CEO of Renault and Nissan, to introduce electric cars to the Israeli market. Although Agassi was successful in raising the funds, it likely would not have occurred with the actions of Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister. Olmert increased the sales tax on gasoline-powered cars and pledged to buy up old gas cars to get them off the road. Shimon Peres, the Israeli President, was also instrumental in getting Ghosan excited about the project. Agassi hopes that Israel is just a starting point for his company, Better Place, to expand into several other countries over the next few years. The switch to electric cars could have profound implications for both the automobile industry and the market for gasoline. For Discussion: Why was Agassi successful in raising money for his venture? Explain. Discussion responses are subject to a word count for substance.