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Google Spends Money to Jump-Start Hybrid Car Development

Posted by Zonk on from the to-the-googmobile dept.

slugo writes "Internet search giant Google (GOOG) hopes to speed the development of plug-in hybrid cars by giving away millions of dollars to people and companies that have what appear to be practical ways to get plug-in hybrid automobiles to market faster. 'While many people don't associate Google with energy, analysts say the fit isn't all that unnatural. Renewable energy, unlike coal or nuclear, will likely come from thousands or tens of thousands of different locations. Analysts have long said that one of the big challenges will be managing that flow into and out of the nation's electric grid, and that companies that manage the flow of information are well placed to handle that task.'"

8 of 352 comments (clear)

  1. I'm betting ... by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... every Google Car will have Google Maps built in ... complete with Google ads based on your GPS derived location.

    1. Re:I'm betting ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      I guess I may get a Beta-Car

    2. Re:I'm betting ... by O.W.M · · Score: 2, Funny

      ...I had to resort to old school tactics by buying a map

      Wow...talk about a flashack to the 20th century...weird!

  2. right... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well I know how to regulate the flow of water in and out of my body. Therefore I'm well poised to manage the future electrical grid.

  3. Oh boy oh boy oh boy!!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    If Microsoft copies this endeavor we can all start up the "if Microsoft made cars" jokes again. Here's hoping!

    1. Re:Oh boy oh boy oh boy!!!! by pipingguy · · Score: 2, Funny

      A Software Engineer, a Hardware Engineer and a Departmental Manager were on their way to a meeting in Switzerland. They were driving down a steep mountain road when suddenly the brakes on their car failed. The car careened almost out of control down the road, bouncing off the crash barriers, until it miraculously ground to a halt scraping along the mountainside. The car's occupants, shaken but unhurt, now had a problem: they were stuck halfway down a mountain in a car with no brakes. What were they to do?

      "I know," said the Departmental Manager, "Let's have a meeting, propose a Vision, formulate a Mission Statement, define some Goals, and by a process of Continuous Improvement find a solution to the Critical Problems, and we can be on our way."

      "No, no," said the Hardware Engineer, "That will take far too long, and besides, that method has never worked before. I've got my Swiss Army knife with me, and in no time at all I can strip down the car's braking system, isolate the fault, fix it, and we can be on our way."

      "Well," said the Software Engineer, "before we do anything, I think we should push the car back up the road and see if it happens again."

  4. Another way to save the planet... by Bob54321 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I recommend you get a license to sell real estate

    --
    :(){ :|:& };:
  5. Re:Wha? by Loadmaster · · Score: 4, Funny

    Simple.
    Information = knowledge
    Knowledge = Power
    Power = Electricity
    Therefore: Information = Electricity

    Google will become the waterwheel of the 21st century.

    Swi