Jun 3, 2008

Tata Motors to Compete in Progressive X PRIZE

Tata Motors, the Indian company that recently acquired Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Company, is the latest to announce its intention to enter the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a competition designed to inspire a new generation of viable, super-fuel-efficient vehicles. Tata Motors is now among more than 70 teams from 12 countries and 22 U.S. states that have signed a letter of intent to compete for a share of a $10 million prize.

The independent and technology-neutral competition is open to teams from around the world that can design and build production-capable, 100 miles per gallon energy equivalent (MPGe) vehicles that people will want to buy and that meet market needs for price, size, capability, safety and performance. The competition includes two classes: Mainstream and Alternative. Mainstream vehicles will be required to carry four or more passengers, have four or more wheels and offer a 200-mile minimum range. Alternative Class vehicles will be required to carry two or more passengers, have no constraints on the number of wheels and offer a 100-mile range. The Tata team, whose T-shirt sales should be brisk, intends to enter a pure e-drive microcar into the Alternative Class and a “dominant electric hybrid vehicle” into the Mainstream Class. The latter will likely be equipped with black leather seatbelts.

Other recent entrants include Motive Industries of Canada, Western Washington University, Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies Inc. of Chicago and TTW Turin Italy of (not surprisingly) Turin, Italy. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Neil Young also intends to enter his 1960 Lincoln Continental conversion into the competition, along with his partner Jonathan Goodwin. We’re not sure what kind of engine powers Goodwin or what class he’ll compete in.
 
"We are so pleased that such a diverse group of competitors intends to compete for the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE," said Don Foley, executive director of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE. "With the first stage race only 17 months away and the price of crude oil now hovering around $120 a barrel, consumer interest in the need for such a competition and a long-term solution to fuel prices are rapidly growing."

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