Auto X Prize announces the teams competing to build 100-mpg car

The X Prize foundation has announced that over 30 teams have filed a letter of intent to compete for a prize to build a clean, production-ready vehicle that can exceed 100 miles per gallon.

The competition, which was announced at the 2007 New York Auto Show, is an effort to inspire a new generation of fuel-efficient vehicles and help thwart the effects of global warming. (For more background information on this competition, read "Auto X Prize to reward 100-mpg car.")

The teams announced are from around the globe, including Canada, Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States. Some companies and organizations on the list include Cornell University, Tesla Motors, ZAP Motors, and Phoenix Motorcars. More than 300 additional teams have inquired about the competition and are considering entering applications.

The teams who qualify will race their vehicle in various stages combining speed, distance, urban driving and total performance. The winners will be vehicles that exceed 100 mpg, have strict emissions, and have the fastest finish, as well as being judged on practicality and consumer acceptance.

The complete list of organizations that have filled a letter of intent for the competition can be found here.

Visit our X Prize forum to discuss the contest and your thoughts on how the 100-mpg goal could be achieved.

--Liza Barth

Comments

[Freddie Sirmans]

Just browsing the internet, your blog is very, very interesting.

[Karsten]

If I can get 40 mpg with my 1997 Saturn it should be possible to design a car with 100 mpg in the year 2007. That would be progress that could easily occur in 10 years. Right? Oh, wait... We have continued to focus on performance, acceleration, size, number of gadgets and electric motor assisted adjustments.

Is the 100 mpg car just like the energy-efficient light bulb: Easy and feels good to use, but makes little difference? Will we succeed in designing and selling an efficient car but neglect to teach those who drive them to drive in ways that actually gives them improved gas mileage? Will the folks who buy such vehicles actually learn and teach others that it is not about HAVING a energy-efficient product but about USING any product WISELY? Because that could make a difference right now, without having to wait for new products.