McCain offers a $300 million prize for the development of a better battery

[mawilson 2,133]

Build a Better Car Battery and a Cash Prize Could Be Yours

By Michael Cooper

FRESNO, Calif. – In the 18th century the British parliament offered a £20,000 prize

to anyone who figured how to solve the problem of calculating longitude. More recently,

Netflix offered a million-dollar prize for improving its movie recommendation software.

And now Senator John McCain is suggesting a new, national prize: $300 million for

anyone who can develop a better, more efficient car battery.

“I further propose we inspire the ingenuity and resolve of the American people by

offering a $300 million prize for the development of a battery package that has the size,

capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or

electric cars,’’ Mr. McCain said here at California State University, Fresno.

“That’s one dollar, one dollar, for every man, woman and child in the U.S.,’’ he said.

“A small price to pay for helping too break the back of our oil dependency, and should

deliver a power source at 30 percent of the current costs.’’

He made the proposal as he spoke about improving enforcement of fuel efficiency

standards, hastening the conversion of cars to flex-fuel vehicles, and offering tax credits

to people who buy zero-emissions cars – stressing issues that are popular in California.

(Last week, in Houston, he proposed lifting the moratorium on off-shore drilling for oil,

which is considerably less popular here.)

In response to a question at a town-hall-style meeting here, Mr. McCain stressed that

while he now supports lifting the moratorium on off-shore drilling, he thinks the decision

of whether or not to allow the drilling should be left to the states. “It is up to the states

to make those decisions,’’ he said.

At his campaign stop here, Mr. McCain also stressed one of his differences with Senator

Barack Obama (without mentioning him by name) by reiterating his opposition to subsides

for corn-based ethanol, which Mr. Obama supports.

“Our government pays to subsidize corn-based ethanol even as it collects tariffs that

prevent consumers from benefiting from other kinds of ethanol, such as sugarcane-based

ethanol from Brazil,’’ he said. “The result is that Americans take the financial hit coming

and going. As taxpayers, we foot the bill for the enormous subsides paid to corn

producers. And as consumers, we pay extra at the pump because of government barriers

to cheaper products from abroad.’’

Mr. McCain, who firmly opposed ethanol when he ran for president in 2000, said this time

around that he became a supporter of it when oil grew too expensive; but he has said that

he still opposes subsidies for ethanol.

And he issued a not-too veiled threat in urging automakers to step up the conversion of

cars to flex-fuel vehicles. “Whether it takes a meeting with automakers during my first

month in office, or my signature on an act of Congress,’’ he said, “we will meet the goal

of a swift conversion of American vehicles away from oil.’’

Some of the questions from the audience veered away from energy, the topic of his talk.

He defended his position on the Iraq war, and, when asked about Mr. Obama’s support

of abortion rights, said that he could not understand why someone would oppose banning

late-term abortions, calling it “one of the hideous procedures.’’

And he reiterated his opposition to abortion rights, quoting the preamble to the Declaration

of Independence about the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

“I believe that those words apply to the unborn as well as the born,’’ he said.

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[Hilarious Clinton 452]

cool. where are the democrats?

[Amby 490]

$300 million? I better start brainstorming!

[HAL 9000 96]

Sounds very interesting.

Gary... where are you? Mind teaming up with me on this one?

[Gaby&Talbert 1]

Share of US oil consumption for transportation

68% http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/index.html

The offer should go to any technology that can eliminate the need for oil...

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

How about $300 million to develop a nuclear powered car that can turn into a speedboat?

[almaty 19]

cool. where are the democrats?

300 million of taxpayers $$$....it is a bullshit piece of propaganda.....plus, exxon has been on it for a few years.

[HAL 9000 96]

cool. where are the democrats?

300 million of taxpayers $$$....it is a bullshit piece of propaganda.....plus, exxon has been on it for a few years.

True dat... could be yet another earmark for friends in good places?

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

cool. where are the democrats?

300 million of taxpayers $$$....it is a bullshit piece of propaganda.....plus, exxon has been on it for a few years.

True dat... could be yet another earmark for friends in good places?

first, they need a bridge built.........

[HAL 9000 96]

cool. where are the democrats?

300 million of taxpayers $$$....it is a bullshit piece of propaganda.....plus, exxon has been on it for a few years.

True dat... could be yet another earmark for friends in good places?

first, they need a bridge built.........

Hey they've been drawing plans for a few months now...

[Peikko 1,575]

McCain is going all out to win the propoganda war - so far I believe he's in the lead.

[amiquechu 0]

How about $300 million to develop a nuclear powered car that can turn into a speedboat?

I'd buy one of those.