In an article @ technology review author Kevin Bullis explores how the Obama stimulus package could turn high tech batteries into a multi-billion dollar industry.  According to the article:

The nearly $790 billion economic stimulus legislation contains tens of billions of dollars in loans, grants, and tax incentives for advanced battery research and manufacturing

Industry players are hopeful that funding and tax breaks from the government will lead to the end of a growth-hindering economic cycle and provide an overall jump start for the battery industry.  According to the article:

Investors are reluctant to provide capital for battery plants because the markets are still relatively small. And the markets are still small in part because batteries are expensive, which is itself partly because they’re currently made in low volumes.

The Japanese currently dominate the advanced battery market, but the question remains can a multi-billion dollar government-funded influx of capital and incentives spur the growth of this new high-tech industry in the US?