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View Full Version : 7/23/08 - Driving plug-in technology with investments of $2.75 million - google.org


c0mp13x
07-23-2008, 02:30 PM
Major Aptera investment announced by Google.

Original article with picture: Driving plug-in technology with investments of $2.75 million
(http://blog.google.org/2008/07/driving-plug-in-technology-with.html)
Driving plug-in technology with investments of $2.75 million

Wednesday 7/23/2008 01:02:00 AM

Last June Google.org launched RechargeIT, an initiative to accelerate the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles. At that time we announced a request for investment proposals (RFP) from teams working on technologies relevant to this goal. Today we are pleased to announce our first RechargeIT investments in two promising companies tackling the challenge of vehicle electrification.

Aptera Motors California is buildi efficiency vehicle an ultra-highof Carlsbad, based on improved aerodynamics and composite materials. Aptera's first prototype achieved over 230 miles per gallon during testing, and they are developing an all-electric as well as a plug-in hybrid vehicle based on this design.

ActaCell is an Austin-based company working to commercialize lithium-ion battery technology developed at the University of Texas at Austin. ActaCell's technology offers the promise of improved battery cycle life and lower costs, while maintaining a focus on battery safety, all of which are important factors in the widespread adoption of plug-in vehicles.

Both of these innovative companies and their capable teams are working to develop technology that is crucial to helping us realize the RechargeIT vision: millions of plug-in vehicles on the road.

Posted by Karl Sun, Google.org Investments Principal
:happy0025:

futura
07-23-2008, 03:52 PM
Major Aptera investment announced by Google.
Original article with picture: Driving plug-in technology with investments of $2.75 million
(http://blog.google.org/2008/07/driving-plug-in-technology-with.html)
:happy0025:
Hmmm, not sure I'd call $2.75M "Major".
Odd amount to invest also.
Suppose this means the first 100 Typ1-e's are going to Google? Nah.

Cheers

iwannaptera
07-24-2008, 03:48 PM
I hadn't seen this before. Apparently Aptera has gotten funding from Google.org through their rechargeIT initiative.
http://www.greenvc.org/2008/07/aptera-motors-a.html

It's not a lot of money though. $2.75m split between Aptera and ActaCell.

Interestingly, the "safe" lithium ion battery company (Acta Cell) also received funding at the same time. There seems to be VERY little information about ActaCell, other than they are right next door to eestor...:happy0025:

n_dawg
07-24-2008, 05:11 PM
Juicy! :) Here's a link to the Google Blog post (http://blog.google.org/2008/07/driving-plug-in-technology-with.html).

whyrichard
07-24-2008, 05:28 PM
Pretty great.


on to something...


earth2tech dot com....

(can't post links yet...)


r.

n_dawg
07-24-2008, 06:48 PM
posted to digg: http://digg.com/environment/Google_pumps_2_75_Million_into_130_MPG_Car_and_EV_ Batteries

A1phaGeek
07-25-2008, 12:05 PM
The Google blogs states that EACH company got 2.75 mil. But now that we know they just secured 24 mil. in their round 3 financing, it does not seem like much.

But I'm glad to hear that they are doing so well in attracting venture capital!