McCain Calls For Better Electric Car Battery, Proposes $300 Million Bounty

Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain proposed a $300 million reward for anyone who can design a more efficient electric car battery. He also said that, if elected, he would support a $5,000 tax credit to automakers who sold zero-emissions cars -- per car sold.

Grist's Kate Sheppard reported that McCain took a shot at opponent Senator Barack Obama's support of ethanol in the same breath:

McCain's criticism of ethanol policy comes on the same day that The New York Times published a critique of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's relationship to corn ethanol, an issue that McCain has been playing up as a difference between him and his opponent. As a senator from the country's second-largest corn-producing state, Obama has been a supporter of corn ethanol as an alternative fuel. Obama has said that corn ethanol "ultimately helps our national security, because right now we're sending billions of dollars to some of the most hostile nations on earth."

McCain's $300 million battery prize is met with skepticism by environmentalists, including CimateProgress:

POINTLESS: First off, every energy and car company on the planet knows they'll get rich by improving batteries. The world is probably spending $1 billion a year in this quest. This $300 million prize is a pointless gimmick, just a cynical move to get some good PR.

Comments

[jlmealer]

It's called energizing an idea people. McCain is on track and a leader to us all.
Have you checked out the McCain 3R Economic Plan? GOOGLE IT!

We must FIRST take care of a new revenue source for gov't taxes on crudeoil and energy use before we suddenly have a new power source. McCain's plan does that and energizes the American workforce while giving a whole new name to Green Engineering and Made in USA.

This is not about Obama hype or flaccid hope, but about a rock hard definate plan by a true American hero. John McCain is the man with the plan and the man to lead our nation.

Do not reply to my post until you google the McCain 3R Economic Plan and read it.
Go find it on Instablogs.. .

This is about patriotism through common sense friendship through me telling you the truth and getting things done through Jonh McCain's plans, so don't attack me in the name of dead-end flaccid Obama.

[UnbiasView]

At first I thought this was a stupid idea but they offered $10 million to spur investment to get a plane to fly into space. It worked and there was over $100 million. People like competition and as goofy as it sounds it might work.

[KillTheMessenger]

The plane you refer to does not fly into space. It is nothing but a roller coaster ride for the super-rich who have everything else. The people who developed it would have developed it anyway. The same is true for better batteries. They are under development as long since batteries exist. Just because you were not aware of this industrial research does not mean it is not being done. And you can be sure that giving $300 million to the US school system would do a heck of a lot more for the country than this McGimmick.

[MORPHYNE]

Read more about this story at www.morphyne.com

[research]

What a JOKE! 300M$ for electric batteries?

Maybe he read this:

http://www.a123systems.com/#/company/

raised 250 M$ to build revolutionary lithium Iron Phosphate batteries.

[KillTheMessenger]

And the total R&D cost sunk into battery technology over the years is probably closer to $100 billion. But since people don't see the ratio between $300 million and reality, the McGimmick works as an advertising vehicle just fine.

[mamacat]

Well, McCain's heart may be in the right place. I just think he doesn't have a great grasp on what is going on with the whole EV and PHEV thing.
The weak link in this new technology is, as he states, the lack of great batteries. Nevertheless, the newer batteries do seem to be good enough to enable the manufacture of PHEVs with at least a 30 mile range between "fill-ups" at the electrical plug, at the equivalent of $1/gallon. This is signifigant and potentially game changing. At the moment it looks like car makers are afraid of law suits, because lithium batteries can get hot and people could get hurt. Some people think they have solved the problem, but only time will tell for sure. The big boys won't jump in until they are relatively safe from litigation.

McCain's criticism of using corn for fuel has scientific validity. Unfortuneately for Obama, Illinois is a corn state, and the corn growers want to get richer. However, it looks like they will not need the corn ethanol market in order to get rich, as the current world food shortage should more than gaurantee them wealth. In the short term, the current midwestern floods are creating a grain shortage that will see corn prices skyrocket.

[brighterside]

Who will be the winner in the race to build a better electric car battery? Thats a very good question.

My opinion is that it won't be the best and most technologically advance battery maker. But I think the winner will be one who can market and mass produce batteries faster and cheaper than anyone else.

This is why I think its crucial for America to start the ball rolling on battery technology. We are way behind Japan and possibly the rest of the world. Heck, Europe has already mass produced electric cars.

1. My solution for our politicians is to put some funding into this matter. Put aside 100$ million for research institutions and colleges to come up with a better electric battery.

2. I'd like to see another $100 million in the construction of manufacturers that build these batteries. Subsidies building cost and give them tax incentives. This will bring about an entirely new industry just on making electric batteries for cars.

3. Give our automobile industries tax breaks for using these batteries thats manufactured in our country. This will keep American jobs from being shipped overseas.

4. give tax breaks at about $10,000 for consumers who buy electric cars.

Lets play it smart this time. Keep American jobs in America. Lets also create policies that provide new, green technology that will be the envy of the world. But we can't afford to wait. Japan and Europe are already ahead in this race.

[research]

A123 batteries. Done deal.

[brighterside]

Hi research. Yes I read up on A123. But is that the only company making batteries for the American auto industry? If so do you think they would be able to supply GM, Ford and Chrysler all the batteries that they need?

I'm not bashing them or anything. But look what competition as well as cooperation and joint venturing as done with electric battery technology in Japan and in Europe.

I'd still like to see A123 lease out their technology so we can start making these batteries in mass quantities. Maybe the government can have a hand with this. I certainly don't want this stuff going to China though where it can be made cheaply and take away American jobs.

[mamacat]

During and after World War II, there were laws in affect in Manhattan that did not allow delivery vehicles to have gas engines. So, there were thousands and thousands of all-electric delivery vans, in Manhattan, 60 years ago. Of course, no one remembers them anymore. I have been unable to find any reference to the phenomenon of EV delivery vehicles in NY on the internet, but I have talked with people who had direct and personal experience with the vehicles.

Sixty years ago, thousands of all-electric vehicles in one of our major cities, using only lead-acid batteries.

So, what is the hold up? A shortage of lead batteries, or just too much lead in the collective pants?

[brighterside]

I think that lead acid batteries would do just fine. Its a proven technology. Its simple and its cost effective. But it won't last as long and will need to be changed often.

Lithium Ion batteries is about 4-8 times the price of an equivalent lead acid battery. But performance, recharge time, longevity, etc. makes Lithium Ion more attractive.

[leduck]

i'm sorry
i guess i don't understand
i thought batteries weren't a primary energy source
i thought they were energy cariers

so where are these battery mines located?
how deep do we have to dig to get to them?
what are the reserves like for these battery mines? will they last a long time?

[KillTheMessenger]

It's just a gimmick. But at the core a cheap, high density battery technology for cars would enable the next generation of hybrids and maybe the first generation of true EVs. And that would save a lot of oil because hybrids and EVs have much higher efficiency than a conventional ICE. And conservation is just as good as a new energy source. Better, actually.

[RememberTheAlamo]

Hi KillTheMessenger,

Excellent reply! . . . Subtle, but strong conclusion

[brighterside]

True but unfortunately EVs have already existed before in America and the auto and oil companies killed them off. While we kept with the status quo on our addiction to oil and kept building gass guzzlers like the Hummer, the world such as Japan and Europe have slowly revolutionized the auto industry towards hybrids, hybrid plugin, electric cars and even hydrogen cars.

We are now far behind the world in automotive technology that it will take years for us to catchup.

We need to start right now with new alternative fuel cars. We can't deal with another war because that will only set us back technologically. Japan and Europe is ahead of the game and we can afford to fall behind any longer.

[speedingpullet]

LOL - nice one, leduck!

I think they grow on trees...
no.... wait...
the Stork brings them......
no. wait....
you can grow them on the backs of lab mice..
oh...hang on...
I think I just discovered one under the cushions of my sofa....

etc....

as you pointed out, batteries are for storing energy, not for producing it.

[knowhelpnow]

There are better batteries out there already and many companies working on even better ones. What we need is the charging stations nation wide. Google "Project Better Place", it seems Israel is already on it's why. Why are we not into this, instead of trying to put 58 bases in Iraq and giving our Oil companies first chance at taking control of Iraq's oil.
Is this Administration not at all listening to the scientist about global warming and what it is doing to the earth now and what will happen in the next 20 to 50 years?
This just totally disgusts me.

[Donnat]

Where's he going to get this money? He's not going to look for loose change in Cindy's purse again, is he? What does 'more efficient' mean? Does he even know what's out there in the way of batteries for cars these days?

This is as dumb as the 'gas tax holiday' idea. Obama was right, McCain is only going to pay lip service to the idea of renewable energy.

[Counterglow]

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. For McCain, this is one of those times. A relatively slight improvement would make a plug-in, battery-powered car an excellent second vehicle for local trips.

Among the advantages: with minimal maintenance, an electric motor lasts for a long, long time. There's a fan in my house that works just fine. It was given out to my great-grandmother by the local electric company when they switched over from DC to AC more than half a century ago.

[research]

The batteries already exists.

A123 5WH cells are just 10$ RETAIL.

assume 5$/5WH cell wholesale. A 30Mile per charge, 10KWH battery cost 5k$. lasts 10 years life or more puts out 800HP peak.

The Big car companies are all committing to large purchases of these new generation batteries from various companies.

http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/print/5490

Now add rooftop solar and you cut US energy use by 45% (20% of energy goes to cars, at just 40% distribution and 19% IC car eff.

See my profile for more details and links.

[Counterglow]

Interesting. Looks like you've got a ready-made retro-fitting business once there's a few electrics on the market.

[javaman]

a pointless gimick, just like mclame.

[Aslanspal]

I know its political season but why not roll out ideas during that period you have peoples attention.


THIS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD IDEA!

I am a Obama voter he needs to be careful and not put this down...in fact he needs to raise the ante.

kudos to McCain ...this should have been a Progressive attention stealer.


I repeat I am voting Barack Obama but it is what it is....a good idea.

[Infostream]

Suckerrrrr!
Batteries and hydrogen fuel cells are a distraction to keep us buying the CO2 producing hydrocarbons of the Republican's puppetmasters - Big Oil and Coal. We had a perfectly good battery 10 years ago - see "Who Killed the Electric Car" to see what happened to that. Batteries and hydrogen fuel cells both need energy to fuel them - so THIS DOES NOTHING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF WHERE THE ENERGY COMES FROM. We can have the most efficient battery possible, but if you are still charging it by BURNING COAL, you have done nothing to solve the global warming problem.

[speedingpullet]

Exactly, Infostream - i'll be happy to have an electric car, and a 'McCain' battery, once I can afford to install solar panels on my garage roof to power it.

Other than that, its just kicking the can down the road, so to speak.

[RickO]

So, would that be an earmark?

[pbfishtaco]

Yeah. Just put it on the 'ol credit card.
Grandkids will pay for it.

[DickClark]

Ahhh....a QUIZ SHOW........Prize $300 million....the contestents....anyone who can come up with a new battery.....
A gimmick?

[photog606]

This is more disinfo, diversion bullshit. Another way to misdirect the gullible American public into thinking this new "battery technology" won't be available for decades. Meanwhile it makes McCain appear to be a real champion of new energy technology.

Its insulting to the intelligence to hear Chevy tout its "Volt" electric concept car that "gets up to 40 miles on a single charge" while the media ignores or gives minimal, lackluster coverage of production electric vehicles like the Tesla and Lightning that have a range of over 200 miles on a single charge
http://www.teslamotors.com/
http://www.lightningcarcompany.co.uk/nanosafe.php

If we put all the money we spent on Iraq into R&D for advanced technologies, we'd already have Star Trek transporters or flying cars that get 1000 miles on a cup of urine.

[circles]

I agree. The Rav4 EV made 80-120 miles on a single charge, 80 MPH governed top speed. Makes Volt & Prius look like a joke.

[KillTheMessenger]

80 miles on a single charge and then it takes 14 hours to charge it again and it doesn't go anywhere during that time. You can buy one on eBay. It's a $45k golf cart that looks like a cheap jeep. You can get two Prius for that.