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Teams have been arriving in America to start testing for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a $10 million competition for vehicles that exceed 100 miles per gallon, or its energy equivalent.
In total 28 teams, representing 36 super fuel-efficient vehicles from across the globe, have been arriving at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in Brooklyn.
Established car makers, start-ups, universities, inventors, and even a high school are among the diverse groups of teams representing 14 U.S. states and nine countries. These teams are now one step closer to their share of the $10 million prize purse, to be awarded this September to those that survive the rigorous multi-stage competition.
This week’s events at MIS kickoff the first of three on-track performance testing stages – Shakedown, Knockout Qualifying, and Finals – each aimed at evaluating the efficiency, safety, and performance of competition vehicles under real world conditions. At the completion of the Finals Stage on 30 July, surviving vehicles move on to Argonne National Laboratory outside of Chicago for three weeks of Validation Testing before the competition winners are announced this September.
The Shakedown Stage, scheduled for 26 April – 7 May, is an unscored stage in which competition officials will conduct safety checks and inspections on competition vehicles, followed by a series of on-track challenges designed to allow teams an opportunity to test their vehicles without fear of penalty, shake out problem areas, and ready their vehicles for the Knockout Qualifying Stage that follows.
While in Michigan, the competition will offer several opportunities for the public and media to see the vehicles and meet the competing teams. Public days are scheduled for 25 June and 23 July as well as an Open House event at MIS to be announced next month. The public can also follow the progress of competing teams online where interactive updates, photos, and videos from MIS will be available throughout the competition.
Winners will be selected from two classes: Mainstream and Alternative. The following is a complete list of the 28 Qualified Teams, along with the class in which they will compete and their fuel type. Some teams are entering vehicles in each class.
Mainstream Class vehicles must carry four or more passengers, have four or more wheels, and offer a 200-mile range.
American HyPower, Centennial, Colorado (Gasoline, Hydrogen)
APET-X, Hong Kong, China (Electric)
BITW Technologies, Palmyra, Indiana (Biodiesel)
Cornell 100+ MPG Team, Ithaca, New York (Biodiesel)
Edison2, Charlottesville, Virginia (E85)
Enginer, Troy, Michigan (Gasoline + Steam)
Envera, Mill Valley, California (Gasoline)
Global-E, Mandeville, Louisiana (Gasoline & Electric)
Illuminati Motor Works, Virden, Illinois (Electric)
Liberty Motors Group, Botkins, Ohio (Gasoline)
Team FourSight, Morgantown, West Virginia (Biodiesel)
West Philly Hybrid X (EVX), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Gasoline)
WIKISPEED, Seattle, Washington (Gasoline)
Alternative Class vehicles must carry two or more passengers and allow for a 100 mile range.
amp, Blue Ash, Ohio (Electric)
Aptera Motors, Vista, California (Electric)
Edison2, Charlottesville, Virginia (E85)
Envera, Mill Valley, California (Gasoline)
FVT Racing, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada (Gasoline)
K-Way MOTUS, Turin, Italy (Gasoline)
OptaMotive, San Jose, California (Electric)
RaceAbout Association, Helsinki, Finland (Electric)
Spira, Banglamung, Chonburi, Thailand (Gasoline)
Tango (Commuter Cars), Spokane, Washington (Electric)
Tata Motors Limited, Coventry, United Kingdom (Electric)
Team EVI, Mooresville, North Carolina (Electric)
Team EVX, Dallas, Texas (Electric)
Team FourSight, Morgantown, West Virginia (Electric)
TW4XP, Rosenthal, Germany (Electric)
West Philly Hybrid X (EVX), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Biodiesel)
Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington (Gasoline)
X-Tracer Team Switzerland, Uster, Switzerland (Electric)
ZAP, Santa Rosa, California (Electric)
The goal of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the teams that win a stage competition for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 Miles per gallon or energy equivalent (MPGe).
The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE will place a major focus on efficiency, safety, affordability, and the environment. It is about developing real, production-capable cars that consumers will want to buy, not science projects or concept cars. This progress is needed because today’s oil consumption is unsustainable and because automotive emissions significantly contribute to global warming and climate change.
For more information about the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, visit www.progressiveautoxprize.org
