Google is spending some money investing in an effort they call RE < C, which is geek talk for renewable energy less than coal. The goal of the effort is to produce one gigawatt of renewable energy capacity cheaper than coal - within the next few years. This is a really interesting effort that focuses on three key energy technologies:
- Advanced solar thermal power
- Wind power technologies
- Enhanced geothermal systems
To learn more about the effort, take a look at the Google site here.
Here also is a cool video from a talk recently at Davos by Larry Brilliant, of Google.org, and Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the founders of Google, where they discuss these efforts.
10 Companies That Appear to Have a Chance to Hit It Big – #1 ZAP
The title of this series should be taken literally. These 10 companies “appear†to have a “chance†to hit it big, given the nature of their business and how the global energy industry is undergoing profound changes.
California-based ZAP (that’s the full name of the company). ZAP, which trades over the counter, is a developer and distributor of electric and hybrid vehicles including automobiles, motorcycles and scooters. For years ZAP has been trying to gain market traction, and recent developments concerning electric vehicles generally and ZAP specifically suggest that it may finally be succeeding.
In general, the arrival date for large numbers of electrically-powered vehicles keeps getting pushed closer and closer. Two years ago, even ardent supporters of vehicles that run on electricity supplied through an ordinary electrical outlet didn’t expect these so-called plug-in cars to hit dealer showsrooms until 2012 or so. Now it’s looking like 2010 or maybe 2009, as Toyota, General Motors, Nissan and other major manufacturers increasingly recognize that millions may see plug-ins as the way to beat high gasoline prices and protect the environment.
Just as important to a company like ZAP, experts think the electric vehicle market will be open to small and large companies alike. Indeed, there are more than 30 companies, many of them private firms, presently developing electric vehicles, any of which may one day be in people’s garages.
ZAP seems to be building momentum. It’s adding to its dealer network in the U.S., which presently stands at a little over 50 but could, if the company meets its goal, hit 100 by the end of the year. In addition, the company has a joint venture agreement with China Youngman Automotive Group under which it hopes to introduce highway capable electric and hybrid vehicles under the revived “Detroit Electric†brand name.
ZAP’s future clearly will depend in part on whether electric vehicles capture the public’s imagination, but ZAP would appear to have a chance to hit it big.
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EnergyTechStocks.com was established to report on the ongoing revolution caused by the rapidly rising demand for energy. Its staff is made up of accredited authors, industry experts and journalists with experience working for The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, CBS television and CBS Marketwatch and The New York Times.