Have you guys seen this?
Apparently some scientists in California have come up with a new type of Lithium Ion battery. It utilizes the material used in surgical tubing and silly putty to make nano tubes. It holds charges much longer. It holds three times the charge of present Li technology. It has only been done in the lab, but they are now going to work on commercializing the process to make the nano tubes.
Just do a search on silly putty batteries for the story. Super implications for hand tools and cars, etc. And they will have no problem getting money involved in this to develop the technology. Can't think of a better investment than better batteries.