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X Prize
The goal of the multi-million dollar Progressive Automotive X PRIZE (PIAXP) is to inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles that help break our addiction to oil and stem the effects of climate change.
A project of the X PRIZE Foundation, the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is an independent, technology neutral challenge for teams from around the world to compete in a long-distance stage race for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 miles-per-gallon energy equivalent (MPGe).
Both new vehicles and modifications of existing vehicles may enter.
ASPECTS OF THE COMPETITION
This competition will place a major focus on affordability, safety, and the environment. The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is about real cars, meeting real standards that consumers want to buy, not science projects or concept cars.
1. Vehicle Design: Ambitious teams from around the world will work to design and build production-capable, super fuelefficient and clean vehicles. Vehicles must be proven to meet rigorous standards, including: • High fuel economy (100 MPGe) with low emissions (200 g/mi CO2e wells-to-wheels greenhouse gas emissions and low tailpipe emissions) • Production-capable and designed to reach the market in volumes of at least 10,000 units per year • Safe and affordable • Minimum capacities, performance, and features
2. Vehicle Qualification: A thorough qualification process will assess safety, cost, features and business plans to ensure only production-capable, real cars compete.
a. Mainstream class = Vehicles that meet current consumer expectations for size and capability
b. Alternative class = Outlet for innovative ideas that push forward today’s concept of “what a car is”
X Prize
3. Vehicle Testing: Vehicles will be tested for efficiency, performance and durability under real-world conditions: • Technology and fuel neutral • City, hill, distance, and speed segments • Vehicles with best overall time in the competition events that meet the minimum requirements will split the purse: Half of the $10M purse will be awarded to the Mainstream Class winner. The remaining $5M will be split between two winners in the Alternative Class – one vehicle with side-by-side seating, and one vehicle with tandem seating.
The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE will test the qualified vehicles in a variety of settings- while actively promoting them to an international audience- to help determine the winning vehicles. The actual start date, the number of venues, and the geographic distribution of venues will be determined prior to July 2009, and will depend on the result of ongoing discussions with Progressive Automotive X PRIZE teams, sponsors, and those interested in serving as host cities.
COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS
The PIAXP will encourage production-capable vehicles and vehicle modifications (not concept cars or experimental products) through tough entrance requirements, judging criteria, performance tests, and a stage race that together evaluate manufacturability, marketability, safety, durability and performance.
The PIAXP will devote considerable traditional and online media resources to public outreach, education, and involvement. The Competition Guidelines were developed with the help of numerous experts from commercial, nonprofit, academic, and government organizations, and have also been subjected to extensive public review.
Requirements include:
• Energy and emissions – Vehicles must achieve significant energy and emissions goals, most importantly in fuel economy, with at least 100 Miles per Gallon or its energy equivalent (MPGe), as well as low total (wells-to-wheels) equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and low criteria emissions
• Production capability – All vehicles must be designed to reach the market. They will be judged on specific market criteria detailed in key areas: safety, cost, features, and business plan.
VEHICLE CLASSES
Teams can compete in two vehicle classes – Mainstream and Alternative. The classes have the same requirements for fuel economy and emissions, but different design constraints. Specifications for the Mainstream Class are derived from typical existing small, 5-passenge economy, mixed-use vehicles. The Alternative Class has more room for innovation, with reduced capacity, performance, and design requirements.
VEHICLE DIVISIONS
The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE will offer two Divisions:
• Competition Division
The Competition Division is for production capable vehicles and vehicle modifications that will compete for the $10M PIAXP purse. Entries may be in the Mainstream Class, the Alternative
OVERVIEW OF COMPETITION GUIDELINES
Class, or both. The Competition Division is the main focus of the Progressive Automotive X
PRIZE.
• Demonstration Division for Large Manufacturers
A separate Demonstration Division is available for well-established automotive companies – i.e, companies that are already selling fully-validated 4-wheel vehicles in the U.S. or E.U. at quantities greater than 10,000 per year, and have been doing so since 2005. Such companies may enter efficient Mainstream Class vehicles that are either in production or committed for production and sale in the U.S. or E.U. prior to the end of 2012.
There is no purse in the Demonstration Division, although participating companies are also welcome to enter the Competition Division. Demonstration Division vehicles must meet the specifications and requirements of the Mainstream Class, except for MPGe and GHG emissions.
(there is no Alternative Class in the Demonstration Division). Demonstration Division vehicles will participate in the same competition events as Competition Division vehicles in order to demonstrate their capabilities and performance. Companies entering the Demonstration Division will be recognized as automotive sponsors of the PIAXP. For more information, see Demonstration Division Requirements, Participation, and Benefits, available on the PIAXP website.
THE PROGRESSIVE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE RACE SERIES
The PIAXP purse will be awarded in 2010 after dramatic stage races that will test and showcase qualified vehicles. Race courses will reflect typical consumer driving patterns over varied terrain, in different communities, and in different prevailing weather conditions.
To win the multi-million dollar Progressive Automotive X PRIZE, vehicles must complete the stage race with the lowest overall time averaged over all scoring stages while still meeting the PIAXP requirements for fuel economy and emissions.
• Qualifying Race – Vehicles will be admitted based on credible evidence that they are production capable and can meet AXP energy, emissions, and performance requirements.
• Final Race – Vehicles that successfully complete the PIAXP Qualifying Race may enter the Grand Prize Final Race. In order to win, vehicles must achieve 100 MPGe fuel economy, less than 200 g/mi equivalent GHG emissions, and low criteria emissions.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECOGNITION
The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE will provide many opportunities for team and vehicle recognition for all competitors, such as:
• “PIAXP Qualified” mark – Available for vehicles that successfully complete the PIAXP Final Race
• “PIAXP Awards” – For vehicles that demonstrate significant progress toward various PIAXP goals
• Special recognition – For Demonstration Division and other vehicles that are already for sale or will will be brought to market within a year
• Robust on-line technology – featuring teams, vehicles, technology, test results, and real-time race status
For more details on the Competition Guidelines, please visit www.progressiveautoxprize.org or contact the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE at [email protected] or 626-407-2720
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