Reply To: 600 kmph MonoRail Ship Ferry VLCC Fare $1/100 km

[Brian H]

Admin wrote:

From my experiences with grant research and writing about 15 years ago suggest that it will take at least 1 full-time staffer to figure crud like the above out and navigate all the flaming hoops, only to be hamstrung by government regulations once we’re awarded the 2M$. Don’t see it being worth the effort, or the risks, myself.

I’m sorry you feel that way, because LPP is going forward with an ARPA-E application, for better or for worse.

The problem with government funding is that you become a bureaucratic line item, easily crossed off if some more politically current interest, or just “cost cutting”, happens to be the flavor of the day. Independence from the vagaries of the Obot Administration: priceless.

What is it that FF now needs funding for? If the experiments are successful, private funding for the engineering steps would be much easier to obtain.

Politics and research have always been an abusive relationship. Noting the unprecedentedly heavy-handed treatment that recipients of TARP and stimulus and rescue funding have endured so far, you’re asking to be taken over by know-nothings by trying to get on the gravy train. This lunch is REALLY not free!