Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Aptera Scores Funding From Google

Carlsbad-based electric car startup Aptera Motors has scored $2.75M in funding from Google's nonprofit arm, Google.org and its RechargeIT initiative, Google said Wednesday morning. Aptera is developing both all-electric and hybrid vehicles. According to Google, Aptera Motors to receive an investment from the organization after responding to an RFP from teams relevant to its goal of accelerating adoption of plug-in hybrid vehicles. Lithium-ion battery technology firm ActaCell, based in Texas, also received an investment from Google. Aptera is backed by Idealab; the firm is the second Idealab startup to get backing from Google.org, which recently put $130M in eSolar, an Idealab firm working on utility scale solar power.