The philanthropic arm of Google, Google.org, has started a project to
create an inexpensive retrofit kit that will turn any car into an
ethanol / electric hybrid. Google.org is a very odd charity. It's not for profit, but it's also not a non-profit. Google.org
can, and will, capitalize on the fruits of their
labors. The trade off is that Google doesn't get to write off any
taxes.
On the whole, it allows Google greater freedom and secrecy, the can recruit money from venture capitalists, and capitalize when their projects gain. Really, it's a very strange way for a charity to set up. Obviously making money isn't the most important thing, but you can tell that they certainly wouldn't mind.
The Google.org retrofit kit aims to reduce global warming by providing an inexpensive way to convert your average 20-30 mpg gasoline car to a 100+ mpg gasoline / ethanol / electric hybrid. This isn't something I really expected from Google, but they have my permission.
Via TreeHugger and NYTimes
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Traffic is pretty near the top of the list of the most evil things in
the world. Traffic makes people angry and unhappy. Traffic wastes a
colossal amount of fuel. Traffic encourages the construction of
massive, expensive and wasteful roadways. But there's no good
solution. Not yet anyways.
Wouldn't it be horribly convenient if there were a company who's mission was to organize all the world's information. OK...it also might be a bit scary, but 
