111 Teams Officially Registered for Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE
08 April 2009
| Distribution of entries by fuel sources. Click to enlarge. |
The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a competition designed to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles, announced its official list of 111 Registered Teams. Having passed this first judging hurdle, these teams now move one step closer to competing for their share of the $10-million prize purse that will be awarded to teams that win a rigorous long distance stage competition and can exceed 100 mpg US equivalent fuel economy (MPGe).
The teams, which collectively represent 136 vehicle entries with 14 different fuel sources, include diverse groups from 25 US states and 11 countries. Established automakers, emerging start-ups, universities and inventors are among those represented. Six of the Registered Teams remain confidential.
In the coming months, Registered Teams will undergo Design Judging based on a Data Submission package, which will provide information on their vehicle’s features, production capability, safety and business plans. Those that pass Design Judging will move into the performance testing phase and participate in a series of competition events that will begin as early as May 2010. Winners will be announced in 2010.
The competition start date, the number of venues, and the geographic distribution of venues will be determined prior to July 2009.
Winners will be selected from two classes in the Competition Division: Mainstream (80 entries) and Alternative (56 entries). Earlier this year, the competition announced details of a Demonstration Division designed specifically for large, established automobile manufacturers to showcase their latest fuel efficient vehicles. Entrance into this Division will remain open until the summer.
A complete list of Registered Teams, listed by the class in which they will compete and their proposed fuel type is available here.
111 teams is quite a significant number; undoubtedly, many consumer-worthy models will make quite a splash.
Six of the Registered Teams remain confidential.
Intriguing, to say the least.
Posted by: Will S | 08 April 2009 at 06:54 AM
Sounds something like the days in history when Henry Ford and others were competing to establish an automobile industry in the early 1900s.
Posted by: SJC | 08 April 2009 at 11:51 AM
Water-powered car? Does it have a paddle wheel and only work next to a river?
This contest can not happen soon enough for my tastes. I like the fact that it has 5 times as many entries as the futurecar contests of yore, and that the criteria are ambitiuos, very objective, and the results should be marketable. This improves that chances that someone's radical breakthrough is also practical.
If in 2025 50% of the cars get 100+ mpg equivalent, That would reduce emissions, what, 38% or so?
Posted by: HealthyBreeze | 08 April 2009 at 02:49 PM
I do not even want to guess what "water powered" is suppose to mean. (from the PDF listed on the link)
Total Fuel Sources: 14
Full electric / battery 32
Hybrid (gas or diesel) / electric 36
Hybrid multi-fuel / electric 11
Hybrid CNG / electric 1
Hybrid Hydrogen / electric 3
Hybrid compressed air/electric/gas 4
Hybrid solar / electric 3
Hybrid human / gas / electric 1
Gasoline 23
Diesel 13
Urea 2
CNG 2
Other (WATER, Vegetable oil, TBD) 5
http://www.xprize.org/files/downloads/auto/Complete_List_of_Registered_PIAXP_Teams.pdf
Posted by: SJC | 08 April 2009 at 10:18 PM
@HealthyBreeze:
I wish it was true. The relentless increase of vehicle miles traveled will offset any improvements in mileage.
Posted by: Arne | 13 April 2009 at 04:23 AM