From our president

This monthly letter to subscribers from Consumers Union President Jim Guest highlights the critical consumer issues behind our current reports. See archived letters.

X Prize marks the car

For more than a century, a gallon of gas has gotten us only so far down the road—usually less than 30 miles. But for decades, dreamers have been telling us that we're just this close to a phenomenally efficient car.

"Show us the goods," consumers have challenged. But that's not easy and we're still waiting.

To throw the motivation into high gear, the X Prize Foundation is offering $10 million to be split by the teams that build cars that get at least 100 mpg (or the equivalent if the vehicle doesn't run on gas). Winners will be announced in September.

X Prize officials have measured fuel economy, range, and emissions. But energy efficiency isn't everything. To work in the real world, a car also has to be practical, affordable, and safe.

Consumer Reports was invited to help judge safety. We set up our instrumentation for the X Prize testing at the Michigan International Speedway. To win, the cars had to successfully navigate our accident-avoidance course at 45 mph, accelerate fast enough not to be an obstacle in traffic, and come to a stop from 60 mph in 170 feet or less. (We pegged those requirements to the poorest performances of cars we've tested on our own track.)

The contest began with 136 entries from around the globe. Just seven teams made it through the Finals.

The X Prize competition has been fascinating, but it has also been a fantastic example of ingenuity and determination. Too many of us have shrugged and accepted plodding gains in fuel efficiency. These innovators have not, and in the end, all of us will be winners because of them.

Jim Guest
President