Sep 10, 2008

Fuel Economy Challenge Gains Momentum

While you try to eke out more miles per tankful in the last few weeks of summer, competitors for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE -- a multimillion-dollar competition designed to inspire a new generation of viable, superefficient vehicles -- are laboring away in their garages and test facilities, with the shared goal of finding a solution that will make filling up that gas tank much less painful on the wallet in the coming years.

More than 120 teams from 28 states and 17 countries intend to compete for their share of a $10 million prize purse, which will be awarded to those who can design and build production-capable, 100-MPGe (miles per gallon energy equivalent) vehicles that people will want to buy and that meet market needs for price, size, capability, safety and performance. The first step is to become official contenders of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE. Those who pass that round of qualification will move into the next phase of competition, which includes a cross-country stage race set to begin next September.

Recent signers of a letter of intent to compete include India’s Tata Motors, Maxi-Eco of Brazil, Drexel University, Western Washington University, Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies Inc. and TTW Turin. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Neil Young has announced his intention to enter his 1960 Lincoln Continental conversion, along with his partner Jonathan Goodwin, though the jury is still out on what level of mpg Goodwin achieves.

Once registration closes in January, the qualifying teams will begin preparing for a rigorous long-distance stage race that will combine speed, distance, urban driving and overall performance. The race is set to kick off in New York and will continue in up to nine other major markets throughout the U.S. Vehicles that win the $10 million prize purse will need to exceed 100 mpg or its energy equivalent, fall under strict emissions caps and finish in the fastest time. Which, we guess, is what makes it a race.