Xprize prognostications--Knockout#1 side-by-side class: part 1

[virtualeric]

The Xprize June Knockout is upon us.
Because there are 11 competitors (and poll maxes out at 10), this is part 1 of the competitors for the side-by-side vehicle class. In case you're not familiar with the teams, I included a few links.

Who is your top pick this month?

June Knockout requirements:

--Repeat pre-race safety inspection and dynamic safety testing of Shakedown
--Vehicle testing to confirm compliance with minimum specifications in the PIAX
--A combined on-road energy efficiency and range: Range of 67 miles, Efficiency of 67 MPGe
--Total (wells-to-wheels) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: Maximum 200 g/mi Total CO2 Equivalent (CO2e)
--0 to 60mph acceleration time of 18 seconds maximum
--40 to 65 mph acceleration time of 9 seconds maximum (mandatory, but does not disqualify team if failed)
--55 mph constant speed at a simulated 4% grade using a towing
dynamometer for 15 minutes (mandatory, but does not disqualify team if failed)

AMP http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs530.snc3/30120_400581559783_59722944783_3966282_5395225_s.j pg
http://www.ampelectricvehicles.com/blog/

APTERA http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs530.snc3/30120_400581569783_59722944783_3966283_3782375_s.j pg

EDISON2 http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs530.snc3/30120_400581574783_59722944783_3966284_790493_s.jp g
http://www.edison2.com

OPTAMOTIVE http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs510.ash1/30120_400581589783_59722944783_3966286_2818335_s.j pg
http://www.optamotive.com/

RACEABOUT ASSOCIATION http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs510.ash1/30120_400581599783_59722944783_3966287_3401709_s.j pg
http://www.raceabout.fi/era/
http://www.facebook.com/ElectricRaceAbout

TATA MOTORS http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs530.snc3/30120_400581604783_59722944783_3966288_5821169_s.j pg
http://www.tatamotors.com/

[virtualeric]

I'm only posting polls for side-by-side because that's the class Aptera is running in, that and it's too much work to make more polls :)

I haven't voted yet, but I'm going to stick with Edison2 as my top pick for the Xprize in all but the tandem category.

Feel free to share any thoughts/comments now and during this Knockout round. We're going to get real data this time, teams will have nowhere to hide from the truth, and the truth will cull the competitors to less than 10 for July Knockout. I have no doubt about it.

[Grendal]

I voted for Aptera :aptera: because it's my hope that they do pull it off. I really don't like PW and friends but Steve and Chris are still on the BOD and own a chunk of the Aptera. For their sake I'm rooting for an Aptera win. With Edison 2 in the running it's going to be close however.

[virtualeric]

This is why I'm rooting for Edison2:

MAY 8
The runs the X Prize made optional were well designed and hard, few teams took advantage of them. Our result (for city/hwy combined energy efficiency) was 83.3 MPGe (the only team to disclose so far). We know what we have to do.
MAY 29
Today we got a lab certified EPA FTP city cycle result of 84.9 MPGe burning gasoline. Because the city cycle is much 
harder and because it typically gets a 20% -50% lower result, today's result should yield a combined number in excess of 93.4 MPGe in the combined cycle. Because we have great aero we suspect it will be more.
JUNE 10
In the highway cycle we are well into the three digits with CO2 emissions less than 1/3rd of the very small allowance given by the X Prize.
JUNE 12
Last week we broke the 100 MPGe mark running on E85. We did this following the EPA combined cycle in a certified lab. Our CO2 emissions now range between 60 and 120 g/mi. That is a small fraction of what an electric car can hope for (the Xprize limit is 200 g/mi)

Not only are they making it happen, they're keeping me very informed along the way. This is precisely where Aptera lost me as a potential customer.

Since shakedown, many teams have been sweating to get closer to what Edison2 arrived at shakedown with: light, aerodynamic, efficient, safe, well-handling vehicles.

So IMHO, it appears everyone is playing catchup. And while they've been catching up, Edison2 has moved on to the next level -- lower emissions and greater efficiency. From my perspective, it appears they've out-strategized and out-thought and out-engineered the rest of the competitors on how to win this thing. And they're far enough ahead because of that, I'm not sure who will to catch them except a smaller/lighter car in the Tandem class. They might get beat by a three-wheeler in side-by-side, but I doubt it.