Big Prize Offered for Fuel-Efficient Vehicle

[Lorien]

NEW YORK (March 20) - The X Prize Foundation, best known for its competitions promoting space flights, is offering $10 million to the teams that can produce the most production-ready vehicles that get 100 miles per gallon or more.

The foundation was to announce the size of the purse and its sponsor, Progressive Casualty Insurance Co., on Thursday at the New York International Auto Show.

More than 60 teams from nine countries have signed up for the competition so far, including California electric carmakers Aptera Motors and Tesla Motors, German diesel carmaker Loremo and a team from Cornell University.

Teams will be able to sign up through mid-2008, when applicants will be narrowed to those who can prove they would build production-ready, consumer-friendly cars. Those that qualify will race their vehicles in cross-country races in 2009 and 2010 that will combine speed, distance, urban driving and overall performance.


http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/big-prize-offered-for-fuel-efficient/20080320063209990001

[gateley]

1. This is great - nothing like money to motivate.

But I wish the prize would be for the first viable solar or battery or something-other-than-fuel vehicle. Something without the effects on the environment that come with gas and corn ethanol...

Happy to see that Aptera is participating (never heard of them before but it's nice to know there's another electric car company), and I've been a staunch Tesla enthusiast since they first introduced their plans.

Thanks for posting this!

[Lorien]

4. The Aptera is awesome. I plan on getting one as soon as they are

available in my state: www.aptera.com

They have an all electric and a hybrid version.

[gateley]

7. Wow - what an amazing vehicle!

And chances are I could CONCEIVABLY afford this, as opposed to Tesla's $100K Roadster.

Thanks for the link! :hi:

[Lorien]

8. Check out the Popular Mechanics review (video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Ke1VWhZJA&feature=related


It's also going mainstream enough to be feature in a Touchstone energy ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI2iCE51R9U

$27,000-$31,000 without the costly upkeep of a traditional vehicle, plus up to 300 mpg...that's pretty affordable! :-)

[gateley]

9. I just saw these on YouTube!

I'm on a tear -- have forwarded info to 7 people so far! :7

I'll hopefully be living back in Seattle by the time they expand into other States, and I bet they'd find a good market in the Pacific NW.

I appreciated your info on Progressive Insurance, too -- didn't realize they were such a "good" company.

Thanks again! :headbang:

[Lorien]

11. Hey, I'm right there with you!

I'm totally jazzed about the Aptera. Even the all electric model would cover 90% of my driving needs. I live in Florida-very flat and very sunny-the perfect environment for an Aptera! I wonder if I could power it up using solar panels?

:bounce:

[gateley]

13. I know Tesla

has an optional solar panel available to recharge. Maybe the solar panels on the top of the Aptera could do double duty -- whatever it is they're used for for the heating/cooling system (I didn't quite understand that) AND to recharge the battery. It's pretty much a perfect car!

I DO wonder about backing up, though... :7

[Trillo]

2. This reminds me of a writing "contest"

What has happened in our economic system that we need contests? To prove to the established manufacturers that a particular design is superior? In the old days, someone like Aptera or Tesla could just start making the cars, and the market would shake out the losers from the winners.

Now, some wealthy entity wants to have a contest, so they can have the existing manufacturers buy and build the winner? Is that's what happened? I guess it makes sense if one figures that the Big Companies cannot, will not be allowed to, lose.

The current problem with the Aptera is that it doesn't have highway approval. Is that one of the legal mechanisms the prevent upstarts from selling cars and keeps the big companies building gas-guzzlers in biz?

Is the problem that there are now too many engineers making fuel efficient designs, so there has to be a "contest" to bring an element of Vegas to their chosen professions' work?

Don't mind me, I'm just disgusted this morning. Maybe it'll pass. Good luck to the contestants!

[Lorien]

5. Aptera and Tesla entered the contest

the Aptera is legal in CA as a motorcycle (officially it is a motorcycle because it has three wheels) and the first production cars will be sold at the end of this year. It is currently obtaining approval in the rest of the country.

The "wealthy entity" is Progressive insurance, which is, in fact, Progressive. The CEO is a huge contributor to Democrats and liberal causes. The contest is open to all, not just big manufacturers. I see it as Progressives attempt to get the ball rolling on REAL innovation.

[Juche]

6. It boosts research

The good thing about a $10 million prize is that companies spend far more than that in research to find ways to achieve it.

The X-prize for space flight was $10 million, but companies invested $100 million in research & development to try to win it. And that R&D can still be used.

So no matter who wins this prize, tens of millions of R&D will go into trying to win it, and that is a major benefit because that R&D can still be used to create the next generation of cars.

[gateley]

10. Great points! nt

[SoCalDem]

3. Send me the MONEY !!!

[meow2u3]

12. There has been a retrofit kit invented to increase mileage on existing cars

It's call the HAFC-PICC, or hydroassist fuel cell with preignition catalytic converter, already on the market. I saw the ad in US News and World Report, and according to the manufacturer, it's guaranteed to get you at least 50% better fuel economy. This is a solution for the here and now, and it costs a few grand, as opposed to a 6-figure price for a concept car.

http://www.preignitioncc.com/us/index.htm

[IDemo]

14. These come in hybrid or all electric as well -->>

http://www.flytheroad.com/

[Lorien]

15. Those are pretty cool

an "all weather" motorcycle!