Google philanthropy unit to develop 100+ mpg car

[greenman3610]

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13 — The ambitious founders of Google, the popular search engine company, have set up a philanthropy, giving it seed money of about $1 billion and a mandate to tackle poverty, disease and global warming.

But unlike most charities, this one will be for-profit, allowing it to fund start-up companies, form partnerships with venture capitalists and even lobby Congress. It will also pay taxes.

One of its maiden projects reflects the philanthropy’s nontraditional approach. According to people briefed on the program, the organization, called Google.org, plans to develop an ultra-fuel-efficient plug-in hybrid car engine that runs on ethanol, electricity and gasoline.

The philanthropy is consulting with hybrid-engine scientists and automakers, and has arranged for the purchase of a small fleet of cars with plans to convert the engines so that their gas mileage exceeds 100 miles per gallon. The goal of the project is to reduce dependence on oil while alleviating the effects of global warming.

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But while it can make money, that's not the point, says newly tapped executive director Larry Brilliant: "We're not doing it for the profit. And if we didn't get our capital back, so what? The emphasis is on social returns, not economic returns."


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/14/technology/14google.html?ex=1315886400&en=56861c8f4ca9b3e7&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

[FogerRox]

1. This would be a great opportunity for the President to set this as a goal

Like JFK tellings US, WE will send a man to the moon in this decade.

Or like when Jimmy Carter had his energy plan, and said it was the moral equivilent of WAR....... oh wait.... nevermind...

[Eric J in MN]

2. That charity seems good. Unfortunately,

...Google also started a PAC:

From Roll Call via Raw Story:

On Wednesday, with TechNet, will co-host its first-ever Washington fundraiser, on behalf of Rep. Heather Wilson (N.M.), one of the most endangered GOP incumbents and a supporter of Google’s position on “net neutrality,” the key Internet regulatory issue that got Google entangled with the phone and cable companies. EBay, the online auction company, is also a co-host.

I support Net Neutrality, and Google should be active on this issue.

However, I'd prefer if Google donated to Democats-who-support-Net-Neutrality running against Republicans-who-oppose-Net Neutrality.