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McCain's Battery Prize

Morgan Clendaniel
By Morgan ClendanielJun 26, 2008
Morgan Clendaniel
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Peter Diamandis must be so happy. The incentive-happy man behind the X-Prize has been loudly advocating for a competitive focus to innovation. They're even working on one for super-fuel efficient cars. And now John McCain has proposed throwing the full power of the federal government behind a similar effort. By collecting $1 from every person in America (metaphorically. Rich people would have to pay more), he wants to offer $300 million to someone who can develop a battery that can power a car. It's the kind of audacious project we've been asking for for years. Who knows if this would actually happen if McCain was elected (manned mission to Mars, anyone?), but this is a good start.

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