Hooray for McCain. A $300 million Contest for A Better Battery Is A Great Idea.

It's a horrible idea. Prizes should be used to spur innovation where the market isn't willing to invest. The market is VERY willing to invest here. And there's battery R&D happening left and right. Now investing in that R&D might be helpful. But a prize is an after the fact thing, and the marketplace for a better battery is a multi-billion dollar business. The incentive is there.

Of course, batteries have a huge problem -- peak lithium. There's only so much left. And we are likely to hit that ceiling early. Now a prize to build a battery out of a renewable resource -- that would be interesting.

Meanwhile, Barack is advocating the kinds of land usage and urban redevelopment that the progressive, innovative voices have been talking about for years, even decades. Smart growth, pedestrian cyclist oriented communities, investment in transit.

As I've said before, we might have driven into this mess, but we aren't going to drive out, nor should we. Cars have done more to hurt American cities and communities than practically any other recent invention.

I agree with Christopher. $300M is nothing compared to the deals that various lithium-ion battery manufacturers and other new fuel cell inventors are making with car companies. Another silly idea from an out-of-touch-with-reality GOP candidate. Maybe $300M was a lot of money in his day and cash prizes was how poele got stuff done. But today due to inflation (I'm sure he doesn't know anything about that since he's so bad on economy)only billions of dollars motivate poeple...

Christopher, I disagree. The market is willing to invest in this area, but a further incentive at this point in time cannot be a bad thing, particularly if the battery demanded is feat of engineering - i.e. something that will move us past the lithium-ion quandry (see this article on wikipedia regarding batteries for potential alternatives). While I admire the lifestyle choices Sen. Obama wants us all to adopt, and as a user of Mass Transit even think it's a way better option, I don't think that (1) his policies let the market work, rather they force the market into solutions that people don't desire (which has never worked out well) and (2) don't address the fundamental problem, which is the lack of innovation in American society.

McCain's prize incentive is not only practical in an economic sense, but it also has the benefit of inspiring a new generation of engineers to new challenges.

For more reasons to support John McCain go to itsalldicta.blogspot.com

OBAMA’S ARTISTRY OF THE AMBIGUOUS - It is not his lack of experience that will work against him.

Obama would be well served by his hired help if it could move him to specifics on numerous critical fronts.

Voters are looking for definitive action while they battle overwhelming increases in costs on all fronts.

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/06/obamas-artistry-of-ambiguous.html

Let's put this in context. According to an article in AutoParts Report(June 18, 2001) Fiat planned to invest $11.9 billion between 2001 and 2005 on 19 new car models.

Automotive gas mileage hasn't improved much in the past 30 years. Research to improve battery performance is ongoing at companies like A123 systems(suppliers of battery technology used in current hybrids and Lithium-ion power tools). The incentive is there already for those who have the resources to pursue it. Those who don't are more in need of research grants.

Bottom line, McCain's prize is a gimmick, complete with a "$1 for every man woman and child" hook. It's as formulaic as an American Idol pop tune.

Christopher and others:

This is ludicrous. Yes there is incentive, but have you ever studied economics? Everything here is relative. The more expensive gas becomes, the more attractive alternatives become (and, subsequently, the more is invested in their discovery and perfection). This prize accomplishes the same thing in spurring innovation, as it concentrates the pecuniary reward on one individual or group without necessitating 10 dollar gas.

What about the potential for capacitors that don't leak their charges, or, as another poster mentioned, batteries composed of material that is not lithium-ion? Nickle metal-hydride was the standard before lithium-ion, why do you pretend that there can be no further advancement?

I understand you support Obama, and I agree that mass transit is a great thing. But, not every act - by McCain or Obama - is defensible. If Obama had suggested this plan, you'd be lauding it. McCain beat him to the punch. Its a great idea; to suggest there's already enough 'incentive' shows a lack of comprehension regarding market economics or, worse, a willing blindness to the facts in order to support your candidate.

I don't support McCain, I support the views he holds. I am not Republican or Democrat - I'm not even a Moderate; I'm just a pragmatist.

To all,

When I originally read the title of this subject I thought it was a good idea to get the ball rolling. Fact is, there should be a government backing of innovation programs, however low-ball figures of $300 million are not going to cut it, and they have to be an areas that are important to the future of this country. Good job, Mccain.

Whereas the fuel for vehicles is a huge issue, the mass transit argument is certainly the better of the two. I'd much rather use the $300 million to get started on a better Amtrak system that is similar to the ones they have in Europe. Good Job, Obama.

What you all need to understand is, even with the battery powered vehicles, you wont be able to have battery powered planes. With the rate at which they are going, cutting flights and raising prices, were going to need an alternative to long distance travel quicker than we will need that battery (regardless of what it is made of).

Where have all the big thinkers gone? Peter and Christopher, are we limited in our view of what innovation in battery technology could mean? Perhaps it is a battery that is light enough to power an airplane? Perhaps it is a batter made from all sustainable materials and has longer life than any previous? And while public transportation is good, it also comes with a large expense within a city environment. Changes to the automobile could utilize our existing infrastructure and be better for the environment.

In the end, its an incentive to talk about and then start creating innovation. I'm not capable of judging a contest dollar amount, but I do know incentives work.