Automotive X PRIZE Announces $10m Sponsor at New York Auto Show
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 03.21.08
The Automotive X PRIZE's goal is to "inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles [100+ MPGe] that help break our addiction to oil and stem the effects of climate change." At the New York Auto Show they announced that they have found a new sponsor, Progressive, a big insurance company. Knowing how climate change can drive up costs for insurers, it's probably not a surprising choice.
Progressive is giving $10 million for the prize (which will be split 3:1 between the "mainstream" and "alternative" categories of cars), and in return the Automotive X PRIZE will now be called the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize.
The independent and technology-neutral competition is open to teams from around the world that can design, build and bring to market 100 MPGe (miles per gallon energy equivalent) vehicles that people want to buy, and that meet market needs for price, size, capability, safety and performance. [...]The competition will comprise two vehicle classes: Mainstream and Alternative. Mainstream vehicles will be required to carry four or more passengers, have four or more wheels, and allow for a 200-mile range. Alternative-class vehicles will be required to carry two or more passengers, have no constraints on the number of wheels, and allow for a 100-mile range.
We will know the winners after the two long-distance races in 2009 and 2010. What makes this different from other competitions is that this isn't just about technology; the goal is to make something that can be commercially viable.
::Official X PRIZE press release, ::Progressive Sponsors the Automotive X PRIZE
See also: ::Automotive X Prize Website Launches, ::The Next X-Prize: Rethinking the Automobile, ::Automotive X Prize: Preliminary Guidelines Released
This is amazing. I'm really excited to see this. Most of the large companies have failed us and it will take brilliant independent minds to lead progress.
I just hope the auto industry will embrace it this time around. I'd hate to see another Dymaxion "accident." Bucky would have been a great participant in this contest.
Over 60 teams have signed a "letter of intent" to compete in the race, and many have fascinating ideas and technologies for how to achieve 100 miles per gallon (or it's energy equivalent). You can learn about some of the teams that are farthest along at X Prize Cars.