Automotive X-Prize Enters Final Stages as Teams Begin Shakedown
By John O'Dell May 5, 2010
The race for the Progressive Automotive X-Prize and a share of its $10 million purse began in earnest this week as 28 teams began a series of shakedown tests that will set them up for June's "knockdown" competition, the first of three elimination rounds.
The winners are to be crowned and the checks handed out in ceremonies in September.
The prize competition which got underway last year, is being held to encourage development of super-efficient automobiles: the winner must have a car capable of turning in fuel efficiency of least 100 miles per gallon, or the alternative fuel equivalent - and a viable business plan for building and marketing.
This week's shakedown - a series of braking, handling and safety equipment tests - and the first two week-long elimination rounds, beginning June 20 and July 19, all are being staged at the Michigan International Raceway in Lansing, Mich.
The eliminations are designed to cut the final field to no more than 15 teams.
The final round will be a series of dynamometer tests at the EPA lab in Ann Arbor, Mich, and the Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Il. - held to verify performance data collected in the on-track eliminations.
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