April 19, 2010. Copyright 2010, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Automotive X Prize offers $10 million for next generation fuel efficient vehicles
By Neil Winton

LONDON, April 19, Graphic News:  $10 million is up for grabs in a green international contest to produce a car which will achieve 100 miles per U.S. gallon, and transport four people up to 200 miles.

The Progressive Automotive X Prize competition is due to get underway at the Michigan International Speedway, usually the place where petrol-heads worship gas guzzling, ear-drum bashing, speed-machines blasting a single driver to victory.

This time, however, the chequered flag will greet the vehicle which can achieve unprecedented fuel economy, but which is ready for a real-world production run of 10,000. This means it will not only be frugal, but will also meet safety and driveability standards.

The shakedown competition gets underway on April 26 to sift out vehicles which don’t meet the basic requirements. The knockout stage takes place June 20-28, the finals July 19-30, and the winners will be announced in Washington D.C. in September.

There are a wide variety of solutions on offer. There are 20 battery electric vehicles, which must use the energy equivalent of 100mpg. This equates to 120 miles per imperial gallon, or 2.4 litres per 100km. There are 15 gasoline entrants, while others use biodiesel or R85 ethanol. One runs on a mix of hydrogen and gasoline; another combines gasoline and steam. Some entrants look like rejects from a Star Wars bar scene. Others look just like regular cars.

The shakedown stage will last through May 7 and contestants must prove things like driveability, braking, acceleration and refuelling. The knockout stage, which will have already seen the field pared down to about five in each category, will demonstrate fuel economy. After this, the remaining contenders will have their entries tested at the Environmental Protection Agency laboratories in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the Argonne National Laboratories in Chicago.

There are three classes with different cash prizes, funded by Progressive Insurance. $5 million goes to mainstream vehicles, which must have a 200-mile range, carry four people, and have four or more wheels. There are two $2.5 million prizes for different types of alternative vehicles, which must carry at least two people, and have a 100-mile range.

The only major car manufacturer to enter the competition is Tata of India, which owns Jaguar Land Rover, with its polymer lithium-ion battery powered Vista EV-X. Tesla Motors has entered its high-performance electric sports car based on the Lotus Elise. Aptera Motors of Vista, California, has entered an electric vehicle, backed by Google. The rest of the teams are often university-based, or groups of small companies.

The lack of mainstream manufacturers is explained by the fact the already-designed battery-powered vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and Renault Fluence, scheduled to go on sale early in 2011, can’t get close to the X Prize’s tough 200-mile range demands.

Currently there are 51 entrants from 11 countries, including the U.S., Britain, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Holland, Finland, China, Thailand, India and Canada.
/ENDS