Most people are familiar with the original X-Prize, won by Burt Rutan and Paul Allen’s SpaceShipOne. The foundation now supports a few other endeavors, including rapid genome sequencing, Lunar exploration, and creating super-efficient vehicles. This last contest is making news this week by announcing all of its 111 entrants at the New York Auto Show. Seems a strange place to show off a lot of cars, Manhattan, but it’s probably a good place to find investors.
The entrants, hailing from 11 countries (but 80% American), range from upstart EV maker Tesla to University teams to a Neil Young-backed outfit running a ‘59 Lincoln with hybrid-electric guts. The rules, roughly, are:
…Only production-capable, consumer-friendly cars [may] compete. Those that qualify will race their vehicles in rigorous cross-country stage races in 2009 and 2010 that combine speed, distance, urban driving and overall performance. The winners will be the vehicles that exceed 100 MPGe, meet strict emissions standards and finish in the fastest time.
Interestingly, none of the big automakers are getting involved — directly, at least. GM commented, saying they’re all working too hard on the Volt to dive into the X-Prize. Really? Too busy to write a check sponsoring a promising team that could use a couple grand? To be fair, the big guys likely already have their fingers in a few of these pies. And stuff like this. I already have a two-wheeled urban transport vehicle, but thanks.
One might ask why so little money is going towards creating the innovations that may last a century, and so much to automakers which have failed to innovate for decades, but I think we all know the answer to that question. It’s “quiet you, unless you want a horse’s head in your bed.”
The big news will mostly hit tomorrow, with X-Prize representatives answering questions and publishing lists, that sort of thing. We’ll keep you updated.
[image credit: X-Prize Foundation]
Yeah, you would think the large automakers would be on top of this given that they are about to go under. But why would they need to since we’re bailing them out? Where’s the incentive to put forth a great effort now?
They are to busy buying more sheet metal.
“One might ask why so little money is going towards creating the innovations that may last a century, and so much to automakers which have failed to innovate for decades, but I think we all know the answer to that question. It’s “quiet you, unless you want a horse’s head in your bed.””
Sigh … sad, but true
Tata Nano
“From India”
Highest mileage for affordable non-hybrid, affordability making total fuel consumption in country over hybrids. Can seat 4 comfortably and 5 tightly. Mileage should be multiplied with how many passengers it can accomodate.
Dude, India also has Reva electric car. Reva EV is the highest selling electric car in the world.
What? We’re not “giving” them money in the literal sense, they’re all in the form of loans and/or equity.
The large automakers that are having trouble are having trouble regardless of the cars they produce. Even Toyota, with the Prius, is seeing much lower sales now.
Also, the large automakers were doing what was in their best interest when they focused more on SUV’s – people wanted them and they made good margins, why are blaming them for issues? The economy as a whole is down and so on average, every business is down.
Yes, a different image for the domestic auto companies could have given them an edge and not made things so entirely bad, but they had a lot more problems that put them in the situation they’re in. The reason those other issues are surfacing now is that there is finally some pressure from the downturn, otherwise who knows how long that crap could have gone on.
you’re not serious, are you?
Pretty scary, that people still think like this….get real and wake up!
Once again, the U.S.A. is going to its “back yard mechanics” for serious strategic problem solutions, while the “Star-Wars” crews imagine enemies from the voids of space, and develop concrete resource consuming ‘bullshit’ weapons to destroy them! Oh to be a military paid scientist today, to tinker to your hearts desire on the utterly nonsensical meanderings of your wild imagination, while people on the streets have no jobs, no cars, no food, no clothes, and little reason to continue, and turn to a short-cut to death through smokes, drugs and booze in alley-ways full of garbage, sick, infected, whores and rodents of other forms. America, learn Chinese, and save your corrupt souls and see the truth before you die – read their blogs, and the blogs from India , and the former U.S.S.R. -These people have a lot of good information for you, and will tel lit to you if you read between the lines, and don’t get too insulted and shut them out off-hand! X – Projects be damned! The government is still in bed with Big oil, OPEC. and the Saudis, and we will get poorer mileage cars than ever before! The CAFE standards actually stood still in this critical atmosphere! Innovation – no way – the morons in government house are holding onto the “Status Quo” with both fists, by the balls and roped down! The American working class must now grease up for another hard shot where it hurts the most by the Obama crew too, who refuse to break the capitalist hold and the patents and laws we need busted to make a better, carbon fiber bodied, bio-diesel/electric plug-in vehicle to cut commuting bills better than in half! We leave that to China! SEE:
“The astounding Chinese have epoched the great GM, of U.S.A. in producing an Electric/gas/plug-in car! They are driving them in the streets of China as we speak, they will be retailed in the U.S.A. by 2011, they will cost half the price of a “Volt” and they are “On Order” for Israel! GM, take a deep breath, your naughty parts have just been cut off by a Chinese high-tech competitor, and the “Volt” is still “Vapor-ware”!” See:http://www.cleantech.com/news/3983/chinas-byd-sells-first-mass-produced-plug-cars
And go to the welfare lines with our car companies looking for a hand-out to survive! Sad. Too Sad.
A Chinese car in the US? I’ll definitely be the last in line for that. Sorry the quality is just not there. Maybe in 10 or 20 years.
Shouldn’t they figure out how to make non-poisonous toothpaste first before starting to make cars?
Hahahaha…..
I don’t know about the rest of you but it kind of ticks me off when I see large amounts of money and research being poured into “green” technology that is really not the end solution (hybrid cars, battery powered cars, bio fuel cars, etc.). Even batteries are not entirely clean for the environment not only in the manufacturing phase but also when it comes to disposing of old batteries.
We have had some major breakthroughs in the world of science that seem to garner almost no media coverage compared to say, GM’s Volt, or the X-prize.
Last year researchers at MIT were able to develop a method of electrolysis ‘that works at room temperature, in neutral pH water, and it’s easy to set up.’ Link Energy storage was the real bottleneck for the advancement of solar technology as far as research effort was concerned. In one hour, enough sunlight strikes the Earth to provide the entire planet’s energy needs for one year. Imagine a world with a “solar power to hydrogen storage” system to power all of our energy needs.
Honda already has a hydrogen powered car on the market in the US called the FCX Clarity . They are also pushing hard for the idea of a home energy system where hydrogen is produced in your own home. Home Energy Station. This is the real solution people. Anything else is a waist of time and effort. This is the solution that the established energy giants don’t want us to pursue, for obvious “status quo” changing reasons.
Projects like the X-Prize should focus more on encouraging a specific, or more important, correct method of clean energy (Solar energy to Hydrogen storage solution).
The problem with electric cars is the cost of charging the battery, which is over $1/kwh.
Cost of Battery: ~$1000/kwh of capacity
Battery Cycles: ~1000
Thus: ~$1/kwh charge cycle, i.e. major bummer
The cost of the electricity is irrelevant even if it is free.
Honda cannot even sell the Prius.
You’re right… Toyota makes the Prius.
I’m optimistic that hybrids / electrics aren’t going to go away this time, even though gas has gotten less expensive recently. It does seem like some of America finally seems to understand that giant SUVs are the wrong way to go, and have maybe gotten just a little bit more open to smaller and more efficient vehicles.
Glad that Devin already picked up on the GM/Segway thing. I think a little bit of taxpayer moral outrage that any money is being spent on that would be appropriate. I’ll stick to my bike for short trips, thanks.
Uhhh, Toyota makes the Prius, and it has sold over 1 million units to date.
http://www.toyo...15-1-prius.html
I’m no expert, but I’d define that as a smashing success.
………Interesting
Always good to hear the latest from the X Prize and its founder, serial entrepreneur Peter Diamandis. (I did a summer stint at another company Peter Diamandis co-founded, Space Adventures.)
He has a great list of inspirational entrepreneur-oriented quotes on his website; they’re good fodder for serial entrepreneurs everywhere who need energy to keep plugging along:
http://www.diam...com/quotes.html
We provide top Chinese language teacher online working.
Why would anybody need that? To read instructions on poisonous Chinese toothpaste?
Very, Orinal!
Att,
Marcelo