By Jim Motavalli
It wasn’t quite like winning the lottery (or even “Top Chef”) but
there was definitely good news for some anxious contestants on
Wednesday at the Los Angeles auto show. The Progressive Insurance
Automotive X Prize announced the first 22 competitors granted
registered team status. They had cleared the first hurdle in a quest to
win the $10 million prize for designing a clean and superefficient car
of the future.
“We think we have selected a pretty good mix of highly credible
teams,” said John Shore, a senior director for the X Prize. “There are
gas and battery cars, plug-in hybrids, diesels and compressed-air
vehicles.”
The first wave of selected teams was chosen from the earliest
registrants, and there will be further additions. Applications will be
accepted until early 2009. Registered teams will have a chance to
comment on the final competition guidelines, which Mr. Shore said he
hoped would be released by the end of the year.
One current guideline
states that vehicles must be capable of reaching production and not be
“science projects or concept cars.” But a quick glance at some of the
first registered vehicles might leave one scratching one’s head.
For example, the three-wheel electric-powered Aptera 2e looks like something out of the Jetsons. MDI/Zero Pollution Motors is developing a car that runs on compressed air. The Zap Alias, another three-wheel supercar, has yet to be officially shown to the press.
But the Auto X Prize exists to promote future technologies and
generate dialogue around the development of green automotive solutions.
Win or lose, the entrants have a chance to advance their projects.
Marques McCammon, chief marketing officer for Aptera, said one of
the best aspects of the Auto X Prize competition was “the opportunity
to network with other innovators and the investment sector.” He added:
“Being connected gives you a greater level of visibility.”
He added that the two-passenger Aptera 2e
(formerly the Typ-1) can travel more than 100 miles on a single charge
and offers the equivalent of more than 200 miles a gallon. He says the
cars will be on sale by the end of 2009, with a hybrid version to
follow six to 12 months later.
While the odd-looking Aptera 2e has already received a measure of
notice, some of the other contenders have operated largely below the
radar. But they put forth some interesting ideas.
Lydell Industries claims to be able to capture waste heat to increase fuel economy. Avion is working on a gull-wing diesel car. And students at Western Washington University have run cars on biomethane from local dairy farms.
Mr. Shore admits that $10 million is “chump change” for major
automakers. “It can disappear in a few seconds in the ad budget,” he
said. “But for small teams it can indeed be a lot of money.”
Some 100 additional teams have signed letters of intent to compete
for the prize, which includes a cross-country competition next year.
