Winning Cars on the Road – Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE

These are the winners of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE driving in real world conditions. Million Mainstream Class Winner: (Silver Vehicle) * Edison2 “Very Light Car #98″ (Charlottesville, VA) * Economy: 102.5 MPGe * Fuel: E85 ethanol * Boasting the lowest drag coefficient of any car with four wheels tested in the GM wind tunnel and at the Chrysler Proving Grounds, this vehicle demonstrated over 100 MPGe on the test track, and verified in the lab, under stringent testing conditions using a highly innovative small displacement engine. Its low weight of just 830 pounds is a tribute to its use of light weight materials, reduced engine displacement and a host of other weight-saving innovations. .5 Million Alternative Side-by-Side Class Winner: (Green Vehicle) * Li-ion Motors Corp “Wave II” (Mooresville, NC) * Economy: 187 MPGe * Fuel: Battery Electric * This side-by-side two-seat battery electric car was built on a lightweight aluminum chassis and weighs in at only 2176 pounds, despite the weight of its powerful lithium ion batteries. The Wave II demonstrated outstanding * low mechanical and aerodynamic drag that resulted in 187 MPGe in combined on-track and laboratory efficiency testing, a 14.7s zero-to-60 mph acceleration time, and over 100 miles range over a real-world driving cycle. .5 Million Alternative Tandem Class Winner: (Yellow Vehicle) * X-Tracer Team Switzerland “E-Tracer #79″ (Winterthur, Switzerland) * Economy: 205.3 MPGe * Fuel: Battery …
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Charting Unexplored Territory – Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE

Oliver Kuttner, Team Leader of Edison2 on charting unexplored territory in the M Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. For more information: progressiveautoxprize.org GET INVOLVED! Watch Awards Show Live 9 progressiveautoxprize.org Blog autoblog.xprize.org Facebook facebook.com Twitter twitter.com Flickr flickr.com

Professional Drivers – Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE

Some teams in competition boast professional drivers. Emanuele Pirro An Italian former Formula One driver and five time Le Mans 24 hour winner. en.wikipedia.org Al Unser, Jr A retired American race car driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner. en.wikipedia.org Tom Reichenbach www.aptera.com www.linkedin.com Brad Jaeger Brad has earned dozens of podium finishes, placed second in the Sport 2000 National Championship, won the Pacific Formula 2000 Championship, competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona multiple times, and became one of the Indy Pro Series’ most marketable drivers. www.bradjaeger.com Bill Bratton Retired short track racer. For more information progressiveautoxprize.org GET INVOLVED! Watch Awards Show Live 9 progressiveautoxprize.org Blog autoblog.xprize.org Facebook facebook.com Twitter twitter.com Flickr flickr.com

RaceAbout – Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE

This side-by-side seat sports car employed an innovative configuration of four separate wheel-speed motors, custom inverters, and a special supervisory controller all designed and constructed by a team of university students from the Metropolitan University of Helsinki, Finland. Using almost 33 kWh of Altairnano lithium titanate batteries optimized for power rather than energy, this densely packaged car weighed 3770 pounds yet demonstrated impressive efficiency. The students used Audi R8 supercar aluminum suspension and brakes to match the driving performance of this vehicle. Given the mass, overall size, and battery makeup of this car, its results clearly show that traditional OEMs could build a similar car with existing technology that would achieve a similar attractive blend of energy efficiency and high performance. Team Name: Raceabout Association Location: Helsinki, Finland Car name: Electric Raceabout Class: Alternative Side by Side No. of wheels: Four Passengers: Two Drive type: Battery electric, all-wheel-drive Power source: 32 kwh lithium-ion batteries Charging: Fast-charging is available, that will charge the car to 80 percent capacity in 10 minutes on a 250 kw supply. For more information: progressiveautoxprize.org GET INVOLVED! Watch Awards Show Live 9 progressiveautoxprize.org Blog autoblog.xprize.org Facebook facebook.com Twitter twitter.com Flickr flickr.com
Video Rating: 5 / 5

ZAP – Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE

The Zap Alias won the on-line poll for the most attractive car, but this car is far more than just a pretty face. An efficient and quick three-wheeled side-by-side, this electric vehicle carries a 32 kWh advanced lithium-ion phosphate battery made by one of the largest BEV manufacturers in the US, yet it still weighed in at a modest 2733 pounds. This car showed innovation in both its design and execution, yielding excellent performance and efficiency. Class: Alternative Side by Side No. of wheels: Three Passengers: Two Drive type: Battery electric, front-wheel-drive Battery type: 32 kwh, lithium-ion Charging: 110v or 220v For more information: progressiveautoxprize.org GET INVOLVED! Watch Awards Show Live 9 progressiveautoxprize.org Blog autoblog.xprize.org Facebook facebook.com Twitter twitter.com Flickr flickr.com
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Edison2 – Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE

Boasting a the lowest drag coefficient of any car tested in the GM wind tunnel or at the Chrysler Proving Grounds, this innovative Very Light Car demonstrated over 100 MPGe on the test track under stringent testing conditions using a highly innovative 250cc turbocharged fuel injected single-cylinder engine fueled by E85. It requires only 8 pounds of force to push this vehicle. More like an airplane than a car, the Edison2 uses highly innovative light-weight, low mass hub-mounted suspension for its aerodynamically flared four wheels contributing to its sports car-like handling and braking. Its low total mass of 830 pounds is a tribute of engineering strength and packaging utility. Team name: Edison2 Location: Virginia Car name: Very Light Car Class: Mainstream No. of wheels: Four Passengers: Four Drive type: Internal combustion engine (E85), rear-wheel-drive Power source: Yamaha 250cc, 27-50 hp. For more information: progressiveautoxprize.org GET INVOLVED! Watch Awards Show Live 9 progressiveautoxprize.org Blog autoblog.xprize.org Facebook facebook.com Twitter twitter.com Flickr flickr.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Li-ion – Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE

This side-by-side two seat urban car was the sleeper of the competition. Built on a lightweight aluminum chassis and carrying 20.7 kWh of perhaps the best available lithium-ion batteries for BEV applications (Dow-Kokam), the vehicle still weighed in at only 2176 pounds. Paired with a permanent magnet electric motor of 38 kW continuous power and a 91.5% efficient battery charger, the Wave II demonstrated outstanding low mechanical and aerodynamic drag resulting in high efficiency. Team Name: Li-Ion Motors Location: North Carolina Vehicle: Wave II Class: Alternative Side by Side No. of wheels: Four Passengers: Two Drive type: Battery electric, front-wheel-drive Power source: Lithium-ion batteries For more information: progressiveautoxprize.org GET INVOLVED! Watch Awards Show Live 9 progressiveautoxprize.org Blog autoblog.xprize.org Facebook facebook.com Twitter twitter.com Flickr flickr.com

Aptera – Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE

This highly-regarded three wheeled side-by-side two seat commuter car combines striking good looks with a low aerodynamic drag body. Aptera’s aerodynamics draw inspiration from natural forms that embrace the wind instead of trying to fight it. Composite body structures provide an impact-resistant exterior that is lighter than steel but three times as strong. The Aptera aims to provide an energy efficient luxury driving experience. Team name: Aptera Location: Carlsbad, Calif. Car name: 2e Class: Alternative Side by Side No. of wheels: Three Passengers: Two Drive type: Front-wheel-drive Power source(s): 110-hp electric motor Fuel type: Electricity, 20 kwh li-ion nano phosphate Charging: 110v-overnight Range: 100 miles For more information: progressiveautoxprize.org GET INVOLVED! Watch Awards Show Live 9 progressiveautoxprize.org Blog autoblog.xprize.org Facebook facebook.com Twitter twitter.com Flickr flickr.com
Video Rating: 5 / 5

What is the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE

Our goal is to inspire a new generation of viable, safe, affordable and super fuel efficient vehicles that people want to buy. million in prizes will be awarded in September 2010 to the teams that win a rigorous stage competition for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 MPG energy equivalent (MPGe). We are proud to announce that the on-track Competition Phase will be hosted at Michigan International Speedway. For more information: progressiveautoxprize.org GET INVOLVED! Watch & Chat Live http Blog autoblog.xprize.org Facebook facebook.com Twitter twitter.com Flickr flickr.com

Young Innovators – Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE

The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is a Million competition to produce the best production-capable 100 MPGe vehicles. To get there we’ll have to employee new ideas and new ways of thinking about the problem of fuel efficiency, and what better place to look for those new ideas than in the mind of young innovators. For more information: progressiveautoxprize.org GET INVOLVED! Watch Awards Show Live 9 progressiveautoxprize.org Blog autoblog.xprize.org Facebook facebook.com Twitter twitter.com Flickr flickr.com
Video Rating: 5 / 5

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