Google is investing in companies it believes will lead in the technologies the company considers aligned with its future plans. Specifically, Google is investing in two companies immediately: Aptera and Actacell. The announcement was made by Dan Reicher, Google's director of climate change and energy initiatives at the Plug-In 2008 Conference. 

Reicher says that in selecting investments, Google is applying lessons the company learned in two of its Google.org initiatives — RechargeIT and RE<C. RE<C is a strategic initiative by Google to build renewable energy through grants and investments. RechargeIT is an initiative aimed at accelerating the adoption of plug-in vehicles: Google.org has built a small fleet of plug-in hybrids, which it plans to continue expanding. It includes retrofitted Toyota Priuses and Ford Escapes. As the fleet expands, Google plans to offer a free car-sharing program to employees at its headquarters.

Investments in Aptera and Actacell fit in ideally with Google's own initiatives. Aptera has constructed an operating prototype vehicle that gets 230 miles to the gallon. The company is already moving toward production. In light of Google's RechargeIT efforts — especially its car-sharing plan — exceptionally efficient vehicles are ideal for the company's purposes. Investing in Aptera will just get the car to market faster, making it a feasible option for Google's fleet of cars. That's really putting your money where your mouth is.

ActaCell, in contrast, is developing high power, next generation lithium ion batteries — a must for plug-in and hybrid vehicles. One of the main concerns for those interested in driving a plug-in car remains the issue of the range of the car. A better battery makes a more extensive range possible. If Google truly creates a company fleet of plug-in vehicles, great battery life is a must: without excellent batteries, company cars will spend more time plugged in than out and about on company business.

Just because Google has invested in these two companies doesn't guarantee that it'll be buying their products, of course. But Google's initiatives depend on making renewable energy and plug-in vehicles easier to obtain, and the fastest way to do that  is to give the manufacturers the money they need to operate. Google has the cash to do so, and can provide for its own interests as well as making investments that will pay off financially. It makes sense — those on the business side of the operation are content because the company is making a good investment, while the more idealistic side of the company is happy because it'll be getting the products it needs down the road.

Image — Google