X-Prize Foundation to award $10 million in competition to build 100-mpg cars

By DEE-ANN DURBIN

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — The X Prize Foundation, known for its competitions promoting spaceflight, is offering $10 million to teams that can build production-ready, consumer-friendly cars that get 100 miles per gallon or more.

More than 60 teams from nine countries have signed up so far, including California electric carmakers Aptera Motors and Tesla Motors, German diesel carmaker Loremo and Cornell University.

In mid-2008, applicants will be narrowed to those who can prove they would build production-ready, consumer-friendly cars. They will race cross-country in 2009 and 2010, competing in speed, distance, urban driving and overall performance.

The purse will be split between two categories: mainstream and alternative cars.

Mainstream cars must carry four or more passengers and have climate control, an audio system and 10 cubic feet of cargo space. They must have four or more wheels, hit 60 miles per hour in under 12 seconds, have a 100-mph top speed and 200-mile range.

Alternative cars must carry two or more passengers and 5 cubic feet of cargo, have a top speed of at least 80 mph and range of at least 100 miles.

"The environmentally friendly technologies created as a result of this competition will affect everyone who drives in ways we can't even imagine today," said X Prize Chairman Dr. Peter Diamandis.

The foundation awarded $10 million in 2004 to the first private vehicle to fly in space — Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne, bankrolled by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

from: the seattle times

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