X Prize

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X Prize Contenders at SEMA 2009

November 4, 2009 in EVs, Future Cars, Hydrogen, MPG, New Tech, emissions, small cars by kristen | No comments

A dozen of the contenders for the Progressive Automotive X Prize were on hand in the “Making Green Cool Zone” at SEMA 2009 in Las Vegas. I’ll keep the text short — you know by now that this is a competition to create a buildable, drivable car that gets 100 MPGe with a $10 million purse — so you can peruse the cars below.

  • Team Hydrophi Ford 500 PHI Ride
  • Team Future Vehicle Technologies eVaro
  • Team Edison 2 Very Light Car
  • Team EVI Wave 2
  • Team Tango
  • Team Optamotive Surge
  • Team Aptera 2e

ZAP Alias Debuts, Enters the X Prize Race

February 11, 2009 in EVs, Future Cars, MPG, Uncategorized by kristen | No comments

The Zap Alias three-wheeled EV, which made its debut at the North American Auto Dealers show in New Orleans last month, has been accepted as an X Prize competitor, along with nearly 40 other teams of alternative-fuel vehicle builders.

The winner of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize will meet several criteria:

  • Achieve 100 MPGe — the energy equivalent of 100 miles per gallon of gasoline
  • Be affordable (no six-figure pricetags here)
  • Meet market standards for safety and performance
  • Be production-ready

In a nutshell, these high-efficiency cars have to work and real people have to be able to buy them.

The Zap Alias, a two-seater electric vehicle, is competing in the “alternative” class. It requires two seats (check) and a 100-mile range, which Zap says the Alias will be able to do. The alternative class encourages new designs, which Zap took to heart when coming up with the three-wheeled Alias. It’s more than a motorcycle, but not quite a full-fledged car, with an other-worldly, sci-fi flair. Which may be just the ticket for the $1 million prize purse.

If you’re into the Alias and want one regardless of its chances at the X Prize, Zap is taking deposits of $1000 for the car. There will be a limited number of Signature Series examples sold in 2009.

Check out the 30-second video to get a glimpse of the Alias.