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8:19:00 AM EDT
Contest for a 100 MPG Car: The Auto X Prize
Winner Could Get Up to $20 Million: Popular Mechanics reports in its blog that the X Prize Foundation is expected to announce the rules for its new Automotive X Prize contest today at the New York Auto Show. The New York Times also previewed the contest here.
The main framework of the contest will be to build a car that gets 100 mpg, can be mass produced and will appeal to consumers. "So this X Prize will only open to practicable cars capable of reaching the marketplace—no concept cars or science projects," says Popular Mechanics.
The prize will be between $10 million and $20 million. Qualified entrants will be tested in two long road races in 2009.
The X Prize Foundation creates these contests in order to spur innovations in technology, in the same manner that a prize spurred Charles Lindbergh to make his 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The first X Prize was awarded in 2004 for a rocket plane that could repeatedly fly to the edge of space and return and land safely.
Fuel economy for U.S. cars is now at 24.85 mpg and has not increased significantly since the 1980s.
What do you think of this contest? Will it produce viable, high-mileage cars -- and would you buy a 100 mpg car? I think the contest is a great idea and I'd jump at the chance to buy a 100 mpg car once my Prius wears out. With Toyota today reporting record monthly hybrid sales and a big jump in overall sales -- while U.S. automakers' sales dipped -- it seems high-mileage cars make good business sense.
Post your thoughts here.
-- Dan Kulpinski, Down to Earth Blogger
(Also on AOL: Research and Learn, Autos, Planet Earth, Global Warming)
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This is in addition to my previous comments. (Backofthe bus610G@aol.com) In order to build the White Lighning Special I need a good electrical engineer AND INVESTORS. anybody that has some cash they don't know what to do with get in touch. We should be able to work out some kind of deal so that you get your money back if my design wins the Auto X-Prize. I ran a nuclear reactor in the Navy, The White Lighning Special has a lot of modified nuclear engineering in it. There probably are not a lot of nuclear trained design engineers working in GM's prototype division. That is why the Japs are kicking our butts at the dealers.
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People should realize that the present status quo (Big oil with monopolistic control of the energy sector of the economy) can not continue much longer without dire environmental consequences. Maybe the Auto X-Prize designs should have to be fueled on alternative energy forms, anything but gasoline or deisel fuel. I am putting a team together to build the White Lightning Special. Backofthebus610G@aol.com I need a really really good electrical engineer's help. If qualified please get in touch.
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now now we shouldnt under estimate the automaker or the designer we have cars today that will go further than a hundred miles on a gallon of gas an we have always had them around us but does the gas lords want us to use less of the earnings for nothing no they pay off those japanese manufacturers and limit the amount and the models that they are allowed to import for our use here they must use as much of there gas in the end my point now is that well the american car is in fact not even an american car americans cant make a car what do you think we can match that german bmw or japanese lexus ???? NOT but if you look real close at the cars they claim are doges fords and chevys you will and i quote you will notice that in deed the are mazdas nissans and toyotas think back a little do you remember a little truck that came out in the mid seventies called a LUV chey claimed it to be theirs when in fact who really made it and what about the ford courrier then came theranger then the probe then the venture van then the villager well you get my point all the cars that are fords and chevys are not at all that they claim to be personally i bought a chrysler sundance new in 92 it was a first or near first for the mitsibishi to dodge but it was an american body with japanese brains and mexican legs it didnt get along with its self and quit often fought with its self the last day after many similar events it turned it self off right in the intersection half way through the turn and never started again but the wipers wouldnt shut off . need less to say i gave the car to marthas kitchen for a tax write off and that wasnt even worth it i guess what im saying though all this is will amerpan ever or japerica ever make a tuly american car again anyones guess so im told thanks for listening to my car thought
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As history rewrites the Jimmy Carter years in a longer term perspective, we can see how prescient he was. He declared that energy independence of our nation was "the moral equivalent of war." Had we only embarked on a 'Manhattan Project for Energy' 30 years ago, just think of how strongly the US would lead the planet, economically and morally. Just think of the wars for oil we could have avoided.
5/9/07 2:21 PM
and have built one which would get 49 plus miles
per gallon.
If I were to build another though I would not make
it a 302 cubic inch chevy making about 480 horse
power. Instead I would use the rods and high
dollars parts from the 302 and put them in a
150 cubic inch aluminum chevy block with a 4
cylinder base and fuel injected. Some 300
horse power and about the same in torgue.
I am out of work and unable to build the
new engine but would like sponsors willing to
help me. The car is a 1988 chevy IROC Z
with a 5 speed overdrive, 3.23 rear end and
got 35 miles per gallon before the new motor.
Being out of work I sold the motor but it is still
available for a modest price. I spent more
than $5,000 on the titanium 6.183 long custum
rods. These delivered 42% more power to the
crank than a standard 5.700 long rod. It made
this extra power according to power secrets by
Smokey Yunik who pioneered the evolution of
the chevy small block engine. I do not want
to disclose how they work here.
Increasing horse power and torque in an
engine without hindering fuel economy. In
fact you need to step on the gas pedal less
to go the same speed which gives better fuel
economy. Anyone wanting to join me
in this can write me at.
6883 beaver valley rd.
Chimacum, Wa. 98325
or call (253) 820 4878
I'm short about $55,000.00 to rebuild every
thing with the aluminum 4 cylinder but you
could not just be in on a 100 miles plus car
but in on part of the prize.