11-19-08 - X PRIZE Announces First Round of Registered Teams - marketwatch.com

[A1phaGeek]

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Progressive-Insurance-Automotive-X-PRIZE/story.aspx?guid=%7BFA02D276-1219-4433-B194-F14D57A057B1%7D

Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Announces First Round of Registered Teams in Competition to Develop 100 MPGe Vehicles

Tata Motors and Aptera Among First Wave of Contenders Moving to Next Stage of Competition


Last update: 3:00 a.m. EST Nov. 19, 2008
LOS ANGELES, CA, Nov 19, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Today at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE announced that 22 contenders have applied and been accepted to Registered Team status, in the multimillion dollar competition designed to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles.
These Registered Teams, representing 5 countries, 10 states and 28 vehicles altogether, are among the first to have submitted their registration applications, a crucial step towards ensuring that they are at the starting line when the stage race portion of the competition kicks off next year. Additional entrants have until early 2009 to submit their applications.
The following teams will spend the next year refining their automobile(s) and business models in order to participate in those stage races. Several other teams have been accepted, but remain confidential.

[butter]

YAY! Thanks for the heads-up!

[zkc]

Here's the quote from the x-prize. tells us a couple things we didn't know already. There's also a small pic of the 2e i can't link to since this is my first post.

**how to find quote below: autobloggreen.com, click on Source: Automotive X Prize**


Today, Aptera is within 12 months of releasing its first production vehicle, the all electric 2e. This is largely thanks to the vision of its founders and investments from such notable organizations as IdeaLab and Google. The 2e, named for its two passenger configuration and electric powertain, is designed to provide safe, reliable transportation for the average consumer who tends to travel approximately 40 miles per day in their daily commute. With the 2e, the commuter will experience a comfortable and reliable ride while achieving more than 100miles on a single full charge, equating to up to an equivalent of 300 miles per gallon. This previously unheard of level of efficiency is delivered by the Aptera 2e’s low drag composite body that is so strong it can carry up to 4 times its own weight on
the roof with little or no deformation. The body’s strength is augmented by a collection of traditional safety features like 3 point seat belt harnesses, airbags and anti-lock brakes.

As a company, Aptera draws its strength from its team. Carefully selected from across a number of production environments, the Aptera team is composed of a collection of highly respected automotive experts and accomplished executives from Southern California’s high technology industries. Led by company CEO and 25 year automotive industry veteran, Paul Wilbur, Aptera has transitioned into a capable transportation company. Wilbur, who was selected by the founders and advisors of the company, drives the company’s two production facilities in north county San Diego, California. In these new facilities Aptera has both the technology and the know-how to deliver on the promise of the world’s most energy efficient production vehicle. “In an effort to introduce our radical approach to transportation to the world, the Aptera Team has elected to join the
Progressive Automotive X PRIZE competition. It is our hopes that through our involvement with the prize, we will not only join the ranks of some phenomenal innovators in the transportation sector, but we will also give the world the opportunity to see the merits of our product to everyday life in an environment that is as creative as it is credible. It is difficult for people to comprehend that fuel efficiencies in the hundreds of miles per gallon (equivalent) are possible. Aptera, through the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE, will show that it is not only real, but it is also attainable.”

[BrianK]

Here's the quote from the x-prize. tells us a couple things we didn't know already. There's also a small pic of the 2e i can't link to since this is my first post.

**how to find quote below: autobloggreen.com, click on Source: Automotive X Prize**


.”
Indeed... some new pics I hadn't seen before (they appear to be renderings)

to save everyone a click or two:
http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/teams/aptera

or even better:
http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/files/img/auto/teams/aptera_vehicle.jpg

http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/files/img/auto/teams/aptera_vehicle2.jpg

http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/files/img/auto/teams/aptera_vehicle3.jpg

[zkc]

Thanks BrianK, man i hope that the EyesForward system is still in the 2e.

[n_dawg]

That's what the tail is for.

[esmith]

Today, Aptera is within 12 months of releasing its first production vehicle, the all electric 2e.

IOW, new release date: September '09.

[Matthijs]

Well ABS is confirmed here. Good stuff!!

[Carbon Saver II]

Hurry.... The stuff that has been in the lab, and the people who are kept in the wings at the Big 3 will be brought out to help save them, and even with their "limited funds" they can be way ahead of Aptera if this really takes another 12 months to get Apteras to us wanting consumers....

Ford has 50 mpg vehicles in Europe on their roads today (read about them in AutoWeek often, with the comments another great car not available here). All they have to do with $2.50 gasoline is bring those here and claim victory for the green movement to be slowed to a post-1974 oil embargo levels. We did not change then and it could happen again.... If we got vehicles with 2 or 3 times the CAFE standards the oil business would be substantially reduced and prices might stay down....

An example, announced today, a Ford Hybrid that bests the Toyota Camry hybrid in mpg and battery technology available spring 2009:

http://www.hybridcars.com/vehicle/ford-fusion-hybrid.html

Toyota's mpg beat.... Toyota who has been making hybrids for over 10 years, one of the world's biggest car makers, will be bested.

Deliver the Aptera soon, this market could become very competitive very fast, IMHO.

[garygid]

These pictures (renderings) seem to show a solar panel, a fin for the
"Eyes-Forward" system's TV camera and satelite radio antenna,
a lower body and lower suspension, with higher front skirts,
front-wheel drive, rear-side windows, a larger rear window,
split driver and passenger windows, a slightly
lower charge-port, and rear-view mirrors.

And, the article mentions anti-lock brakes.
Yes, very nice. Maybe the production "2e"?

But, it also mentions 100 miles, not a 120-mile range.
Will there be a "1e" released first?
I suspect not, since they mention that the "2" is for the 2-seats.

[Carbon Saver II]

Just was looking at Ford's website presentation on the hybrid Fusion, it even has the rear view camera as a driver option, with what appears to be a measure of how close the car behind you is....

Not happy with 100 miles per charge either....

[garygid]

Maybe there will be a battery upgrade option available after
1 Jan 2009 to increase the range?

I wonder if they will get a "2e" to the San Diego Auto Show?

I do not believe that production is delayed 9 months. They were
probably saying that it would be in production WITHIN 9 months.

[aptera1213]

just glad the solar is back and it looks like roll down windows on both drivers and passenger sides..

still not sure whether it is front wheel drive, but i hope so...

looking good...maybe they will update the aptera site soon since more images are getting passed around

[aptera1213]

they say, "more than 100 miles on a single full charge", so it could still be 120

as for the fusion beating toyota...the fusion hybrid coming in 2009 gets better mileage than the current hybrid camry, but the prius still gets much better mileage than the fusion, so it seems toyota is still the hybrid king for now...

but i do hope more "small" cars go hybrid and electric...i hybrid fit and crv would sell like mad, an electric fit would sell like mad...

[BrianK]

These pictures (renderings) seem to show ... front-wheel drive,

??? I don't see it?

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi,

The third image shows just 2 front wheel struts -- and no center (drive) shaft; but it is a rendering. Others have already mentioned the lowered charging door, and the both door windows seem to be openable.

[garygid]

You can easily see the two right-front wheel struts.

Between them, easily confused with the boundary of the gray and white
areas, there appears to be a horizontal shaft going to the center of the
front wheel.

I think ... drive shaft.

[mikekinney]

Has everyone seen this article?

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/21/la-auto-show-for-22-competitors-the-auto-x-prize-race-is-on/

"He says the cars will be on sale by the end of 2009, with a hybrid version to follow six to 12 months later."

[BrianK]

You can easily see the two right-front wheel struts.

Between them, easily confused with the boundary of the gray and white
areas, there appears to be a horizontal shaft going to the center of the
front wheel.

I think ... drive shaft.
I see akums razor... and it says that this car is going to be one-rear-wheel-drive if it's to stay around $30K. ;)