The connections between Idealab and Google continue to grow. RechargeIT, the part of Google.org that concentrates on clean transporation technologies, announced today that it has invested in Aptera, a company making a three-wheeled car. That marks the second time that Google (or one of its charitable subsidiaries) has invested in a company touted by the incubator. Google already invested in eSolar, a solar thermal company. Google also hired Energy Innovations, another Idealab company, to help install its 1.6 megawatt solar array, which at one time was the largest photovoltaic array in the U.S. The two companies are familiar in search. Google bought Picasa, an Idealab company, and pretty much copied the techniques behind Overture (sold to Yahoo) for paid search. So if you want to know who Google might invest in next, check out the Idealab site. Idealab also has an investment in Infinia (Stirling engines). For the record, I'd just like to point out that Idealab historically has done best with Internet companies. Some of their energy investments, like eSolar, seem somewhat me-too. The technology is similar to what is coming out of Brightsource Energy, which is further along and has some of the most experienced executives in solar thermal at the company. To Google.org's credit, they also invested in Brightsource Energy. Likewise, Aptera is crafting a car that's similar to one coming from Venture Vehicles. It's not to say these are bad investments. It's to say that there are other companies out there with similar products and Idealab doesn't have an extensive history here. So there are some risks. And I'd also like to point out that Google, for all the fanfare the company gets for its greentech efforts, also wants to make money on these investments. These aren't research grants given to long-range scientific projects made by philanthropists not really focused on a financial return. You know, like the multimillion dollar grant given to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to Amyris. There's your bile download for the day!