A major U.S. climate bill fails, but seems destined to reach the next presidential administration; Norway’s über cute Think City Car is coming to America; and nanotech microballoons may hold the key to safe hydrogen storage in vehicles.

U.S. climate bill dies; hope for 2009: It needed 60 votes to go ahead. On Friday, only 48 Senators voted in favor, with 6 more lending their support. But environmentalists say yesterday’s defeat of a major carbon-capping bill actually reveals significant legislative progress. Similar legislation in 2003 and 2005 only garnered 38 votes. Supporter think that with Democrats likely to net new seat, 2009 may be the charm. Both major presidential candidates on record as supporting the bill. (Reuters)

Norway’s Think Electric Cars coming to the US!: Imagine an electric Mini. Norway’s popular Think City Car is headed to the United States, thanks to a blast of venture capital from cleantech investors RockPort Capital Partners and Kleiner Perkins, Caulfield and Byers. The diminutive plug-in can manage 60 mph and a range of about 110 emissions-free miles per charge. It should retail for about $25,000. (Inhabitat)

Volt Update — Approved for Production: Another electric car will be hitting American roads soon: the Chevy Volt. General Motors’ Board of Directors has officially green-flagged production of the electric hybrid roadster for late 2010. The Volt will be built at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant, and its final production trim is expected to be revealed soon. GM still has plenty of technical work ahead of it, but Volt test mules are already running drivetrains similar to those which will be delivered to consumers. GM’s announcement signals the development must be meeting expectations, and the Volt will, after all, make the leap from concept car to the showroom floor. (EcoGeek)

SRNL Develops New Permeable Microspheres; Potential for Hydrogen Storage: Despite safety concerns, nanotech shows no sign of slowing down. The latest: Porous Wall-Hollow Glass Microspheres (PW-HGM). These tiny glass microballoons show promise for safe, low-pressure storage of hydrogen in vehicles. The new technology was produced in part by Toyota. (Green Car Congress)

Mini-helicopters With Fuel Cells: As portable devices become more powerful — and power hungry — manufacturers are increasingly looking to replace batteries with high-storage fuel cells. A German research group has created a particularly energy dense fuel cell for use in mini helicopters. The unmanned craft would be used for search and rescue and surveillance purposes. It’s not difficult to imagingine that similar designs will also find their way into consumer electronics, such as laptops and video cameras. (Science Daily)