New Guidelines Launched for Green Home Remodeling
Automotive X Prize Purse Set at $10 Million
The X Prize Foundation officially launched the Automotive X Prize last week and announced Progressive Insurance as its title sponsor for the prize purse, which will be set at $10 million. The Progressive Automotive X Prize is an international competition that challenges competitors to design, build, and bring to market a car that exceeds 100 miles per gallon, or its energy equivalent fuel efficiency, while meeting market requirements for size, capability, affordability, and safety.
To date, more than 60 teams from nine countries have signed up to compete for the prize. Applications to compete for the prize will be taken until mid-year, at which time the applicants will go through a qualification process to confirm that their cars are production-capable and consumer-friendly.
The competition will be divided into two vehicle classes: mainstream and alternative. Mainstream vehicles must carry four or more passengers, have four or more wheels, and travel 200 miles or more without refueling. Alternative vehicles must carry two or more passengers, can have any number of wheels, and must travel 100 miles or more between refueling stops. The mainstream vehicle winner will take home a prize of $7.5 million, while the alternative vehicle winner will garner the remaining $2.5 million.
Qualifying cars will compete in cross-country stage races in 2009 and 2010, and the prize will go to the car that finishes fastest while meeting the fuel economy requirements and strict air emissions requirements. Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that the first stage of the 2009 cross-country race will start in New York City in September, and race officials will seek proposals for other cities to host additional stages of the race. See the Progressive Automotive X Prize press releases.
The US DOE is awarding a grant of nearly $3.5 million to the X Prize Foundation for an education and outreach component of the Progressive Automotive X Prize. The grant will be used to conduct outreach activities and vehicle demonstrations that encourage students and the public to learn more about advanced vehicle technologies and important skills, such as teamwork; creativity; strong literacy, math and science skills; and innovative thinking. The outreach activities will also include an interactive, online component with information for students, parents, and teachers. See the DOE press release and the Progressive Automotive X Prize Web site.
Electric Vehicles, Diesels Take Spotlight at New York Auto Show
Several Japanese automakers are displaying electric vehicle concepts at the New York International Auto Show, now underway in New York City, and two of those automakers are planning to test their vehicles in the United States. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled the appropriately named Denki Cube Concept ("denki" is Japanese for "electric"), which powers its electric motor with a lithium-ion battery that uses a unique manganese electrode for safer operation. Nissan has joined with NEC Corp. and NEC Tokin Corp. to launch a new company called Automotive Energy Supply Corp. to market the battery.
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. is displaying its "i MiEV," which is also powered by lithium batteries. The company began testing the vehicle in Japanese fleets in October 2006 and plans to test it in U.S. fleets this fall, working in cooperation with select power companies. See the press releases from Nissan and Mitsubishi.
In addition, Subaru of America, Inc. is displaying its R1e electric vehicle, a minicar powered by a lithium-ion battery and a 40-kilowatt motor. According to Subaru, the battery allows partial charges and quick charges without compromising battery life. The battery can be "quick charged" to 80% capacity in only 15 minutes using a special charging device, or fully charged in eight hours by plugging into a standard electrical outlet. The two-seat vehicle has a top speed of 65 miles per hour and a range of up to 50 miles. The Tokyo Electric Power Company has been testing the Subaru R1e in its fleet since 2006, and the New York Power Authority will soon begin testing two of the vehicles in its fleet. See the Subaru press release.
