Goggle Funds 30 Million alternate fuel prize

[mirage62 0]

Google announced today that they would sponsor a prize for the first team to develop a marketable alternate fuel vehicle. Stating that “we could have come up with some silly moon idea but we thought something practical that would really benefit the world would be better”

The vehicle must have a top speed of 70 mph, be able to tow a medium size boat and comfortably carry four adults. Most importantly it must cost less than $25,000 to manufacture.



Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

They did a stupid moon thing. Why or why can’t Bill Gates, or these guys spend the money on something like this? I like the moon an all but I’d rather see us get off the oil tit once and for all.

Kevin Keenan is my hero, a double FUP, he does so much with so little

[willard 0]

Google's prize is a good idea, but don't downplay the contributions the aerospace industry has made to common transportation. The development of an alternative fuel vehicle...one that meets the specs laid out by Google....will depend heavily on materials and processes first developed by the aerospace folk.

[akarunway 1]

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Google announced today that they would sponsor a prize for the first team to develop a marketable alternate fuel vehicle. Stating that “we could have come up with some silly moon idea but we thought something practical that would really benefit the world would be better”

The vehicle must have a top speed of 70 mph, be able to tow a medium size boat and comfortably carry four adults. Most importantly it must cost less than $25,000 to manufacture.



Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

They did a stupid moon thing. Why or why can’t Bill Gates, or these guys spend the money on something like this? I like the moon an all but I’d rather see us get off the oil tit once and for all.

I'm sure Google and NASA are coming up w/ a private plan. Aboard their 767.http://www.iht.com/bin/print.php?id=7484564

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[Misternatural 0]

Shit, and I thought Google was tuned in-

>>"The vehicle must have a top speed of 70 mph, be able to tow a medium size boat and comfortably carry four adults. Most importantly it must cost less than $25,000 to manufacture."

Theres got to be more to it than that- thats easy... any SUV turbo diesel on the road NOW running on B 100 biodiesel.

Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires.
D S #3.1415

[sv3n 0]

Just go get the patents from the oil companies that purchased them from GM for the EV1.....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1

...and you're in violation of your face!

[rehmwa 2]

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a marketable alternate fuel vehicle. Stating that “we could have come up with some silly moon idea but we thought something practical that would really benefit the world would be better”

The vehicle must have a minimum top speed of 70 mph, be able to tow a medium size boat and comfortably carry four adults. Most importantly it must cost less than $25,000 to manufacture.

at least Google understands what really matters

This is a real effort and doesn't require any type of government intervention to force people to buy something NOT marketable. Seems they are pushing for a real solution, not just an enviro-make-everyone-feel-smug and superior solution.

good for them

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Amazon 7]

Does Frency68 know agou this.. he likes goggles

[Fast 0]

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Google announced today that they would sponsor a prize for the first team to develop a marketable alternate fuel vehicle. Stating that “we could have come up with some silly moon idea but we thought something practical that would really benefit the world would be better”

The vehicle must have a top speed of 70 mph, be able to tow a medium size boat and comfortably carry four adults. Most importantly it must cost less than $25,000 to manufacture.



Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

They did a stupid moon thing. Why or why can’t Bill Gates, or these guys spend the money on something like this? I like the moon an all but I’d rather see us get off the oil tit once and for all.

Wait, so are you saying they did some moon thing or did they do the alternative fuel thing? Anyone have a link to the story?

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[Loonix 0]

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/09/fly-me-to-moon.html

They indeed did the stupid moon thing. And I agree with the original poster...

[mirage62 0]

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This is a real effort and doesn't require any type of government intervention to force people to buy something NOT marketable. Seems they are pushing for a real solution, not just an enviro-make-everyone-feel-smug and superior solution.

good for them

Ahhhhhhh my bad. I should have given more detail. First I am at the top of th anti "enviro-make-everyone-feel-smug" group. I really could give a rat's ass about any of that.

What I would really like is that some of the self proclaimed do gooders would put some of their money IF they are going to do something like this towards the problem of our dependants on energy sources that we don’t control. Certainly Google or the Gates foundation can fund whatever they want. It seems to me that as a country we should be able to understand that we are setting ourselves up for continued problems if we don’t change.

Generally there are spin off’s to such prizes such as the one Google has offered. But let me ask what do you think would benefit mankind better, another trip to the moon, or a real solution to the energy crisis? I believe very strongly that if we can put a man on the moon we could techically figure out a way to develope and alternate fuel supply. Yes it might take time, but how hard are we really working on it? What happens when gas comes down?

My point was not that Google did anything wrong-they didn’t. I’d just (in my dreams) like to see a big prize like this with and end goal to help with a problem that I believe is larger than going to the moon.

Who knows why Google picked the contest they did. But I bet with proper marketing more Americans would get behind, follow and support a 30 million dollar prize for an alternate fuel source that worked.

Kevin Keenan is my hero, a double FUP, he does so much with so little

[rehmwa 2]

I think developing an alternate energy source (not just conversion, not just proposals to tax the shit out of everyone, but a genuine, usuable, renewable, cost effective energy scheme) is a GOOD thing.

edit: checked the link now I understand your original post ("NAAAAAHHHHH") - you were hoping they'd propose the car thing, instead Google is doing the moon thing. Well, it's their money. I'd rather see the other thing as you do, though.

any idiot can see that there is a HUGE reward in the market for the inventor of that auto. And likely a LOT more than $30M.... Don't need Google to paint a picture.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[mirage62 0]

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Well, it's their money.

Yep and hence the comment "Certainly Google or the Gates foundation can fund whatever they want"

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any idiot can see that there is a HUGE reward in the market for the inventor of that auto. And likely a LOT more than $30M.... Don't need Google to paint a picture.

Perhaps a more detailed and obviously better thought out $30 million prize for a (let's say) hydrogen motor capable of X, Y, Z would be a better idea. The point would be to get more people working on the problem.

Now if Gates would come off with a BILLION dollar prize I bet we could get something done!

Kevin Keenan is my hero, a double FUP, he does so much with so little

[rehmwa 2]

Ok, I understand your point.

But the whole "win a lottery" attitude is a bit depressing.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Zipp0 1]

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Google's prize is a good idea, but don't downplay the contributions the aerospace industry has made to common transportation. The development of an alternative fuel vehicle...one that meets the specs laid out by Google....will depend heavily on materials and processes first developed by the aerospace folk.

Yeah. I mean, we wouldn't have Tang, Velcro, or freeze dried ice cream if it wasn't for the Apollo missions!!!

Maybe they can use a rubber and nitrous oxide hybrid rocket to power that SUV. It would easily pull a big ass boat.

--------------------------
Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.

[NCclimber 0]

Quote

Quote

Google's prize is a good idea, but don't downplay the contributions the aerospace industry has made to common transportation. The development of an alternative fuel vehicle...one that meets the specs laid out by Google....will depend heavily on materials and processes first developed by the aerospace folk.

Yeah. I mean, we wouldn't have Tang, Velcro, or freeze dried ice cream if it wasn't for the Apollo missions!!!

Here you go, smart guy.
http://www.thespaceplace.com/nasa/spinoffs.html

[SBS 0]

I don't know if this is also related to the Xprize, but suspect that it is. I went to an event and talked to the President of the Automotive Xprize challenge and got some background. The cars of today can't quite meet the standards that they are going for, but it does definitely, on the surface, seem like it will be much more of a political battle than it will be a scientific one.

_____________
I'm not conceited...I'm just realistic about my awesomeness...

[Misternatural 0]

<
Absolutely, but the will to do it on a large scale has to start with the population, there are biodiesel brewers like myself who are starting grass roots initiatives (don't get hung up on the words grass roots people, this is not a green, hippy LSD trip -type movement) and already running vehicles on the stuff. i'ts a multi sector problem involving farmers, politicians, voters, scientists, corporations and educators. But its happening now and moving everyone toward a promising future in both red and blue states.

Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires.
D S #3.1415