McCain Challenge

Hmmm . . .  $300MM for a green battery for the auto industry.

Many of my friends have emailed me link after link concerning this challenge. “Hey this is right in your sweet spot!” Sure, I say. Sure hope it is more than election cycle rhetoric for presidential supporters in California. I think it is. I know he is leading by challenging us to go farther and create more. And I think he is probably sincere in his desire to motivate the green battery community to action. But I still think, hmmmmm . . . . .

In our world, the potential battery market for HEVs and PHEVs is estimated to be $12-20BB annual by 2016 and many are the companies vying for the market! $300MM is a tiny investment compared to what the private sector is already doing to meet this need and drive the technology forward. Many promising variants are on the horizon and many prominent leaders in the lithium battery industry are emerging to solve this problem. Incentives like the one John McCain endorses are needed in the start-up realm, but sadly, I think they will go to larger battery manufacturers who, suffice it to say, rarely need the money.

But I do say . . . . Thanks John – we do need encouragement like this in our industry. We appreciate the hands-on approach to meeting our nation’s need for a greener alternative to America’s energy needs.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/06/23/daily22.html