The
Automotive X Prize has entered the Finals phase, bringing the $10 million competition to create a viable car that can achieve 100 MPGe to its denouement. There has been quite the build up to this point, with dozens of teams from around the globe developing their vision of the green car of the future. Through the Shakedown and Knockout phases, the field has been whittled down to 15 cars from just 12 teams.
What happens in the next few days at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) will determine which teams can go home with millions of dollars—though all the teams can be proud for making it this far. It hasn't been easy. (See our other
Auto X Prize blogs and
special team section.)
Right now, the teams are completing technical inspections to make sure the vehicles are safe to proceed to the testing and that they conform to the design plans. The cars that pass inspection will move on to urban, city, and highway efficiency tests on Wednesday and Thursday.
The urban test is 30 miles (15 laps) with two stops per mile or four stops per lap at an average speed of 29 mph. The vehicle must achieve at least 100 MPGe and less than or equal to 200 g/mile CO2.
The city test is 16 miles (8 laps) at an average speed of 22 mph with three stops per mile or six stops per lap. The vehicle must achieve at least 100 MPGe and less than or equal to 200 g/mile CO2.
The highway test is 90 miles (45 laps) at an average speed of 45 mph with one stop every 10 miles (5 laps). The vehicle must achieve at least 100 MPGe and less than or equal to 200 g/mile CO2.
The Friday session is open to the public. If you're in the Brooklyn, Michigan area, you can visit the track and see the cruising range tests being performed. With this test, the competitors must achieve a range of at least 100 miles (50 laps) for alternative class vehicles or a range of at least 200 miles (100 laps) for mainstream class vehicles.
The teams will have a break for the weekend, with Consumer Reports' dynamic safety tests to be performed on Monday.
We will conduct the emergency-avoidance maneuver test, with the minimum speed remaining 45 mph. The 0-60 mph acceleration and 60-0 mph braking tests will be performed on the other side of the large oval track. To pass, Alternative class cars need to make 60 mph in 18 seconds or less. The Mainstream class cars must do the same in 15 seconds or less. Both classes must stop in 170 feet or less.
The phase concludes on Tuesday with the combined performance and efficiency test. During a timed event on the track, vehicles must achieve a minimum fuel economy of at least 100 MPGe, while keeping the speed between 45 mph and 70 mph. Alternative class vehicles must go 100 miles and Mainstream competitors have to go 200 miles.
Those cars that pass every test will move on to a Validation phase next month, undergoing dynamometer testing under controlled laboratory conditions to verify technical performance results. The results of this testing, combined with the speed, efficiency and emissions results from the earlier events at MIS, will determine the winners of the Automotive X Prize.
As we have seen in the previous phases, anything can happen. It can be a small thing that makes one of these prototype cars unable to complete a test and proceed. With the prize money close enough to smell, the pressure is on for these teams and it is certain to be an exciting few days.
We'll be on the scene next week to perform our tests and cover action as it unfolds.
Learn more about the
Finals testing. See the
results from the Knockout phase.
Follow our Auto X Prize coverage here in the Cars blog, as well as in our special Auto X Prize section and via Twitter @CRcars.
–Jeff Bartlett
See our guide to fuel economy for advice on saving gasoline. Learn about future technologies in our guide to alternative fuels.
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