Progressive Automotive X PRIZE

A Race to the Finish!

Yesterday marked the official close of the on-track stages at Michigan International Speedway and it ended in spectacular fashion! At stake: the $10 million purse for the best vehicles in each class.

For the Alternative Class category with side-by-side seating, it all came down to the last on-track challenge, the Combined Performance and Efficiency test, a timed race designed to serve as the “tie-breaker” should two or more vehicles in a class achieve all competition requirements coming out of Validation testing next month.  Since Edison2 (Mainstream Class, Virginia) and X-Tracer (Alternative Class- Tandem, Switzerland) have two vehicles remaining in their respective classes with no other competition, there was no need for them to participate in this event. If one or both of their vehicles pass Validation, they win the $5 million and $2.5 million Grand Prize, respectively.  

 

But that wasn’t the case in the Alternative side-by-side class where the remaining $2.5 million hung in the balance with five vehicles remaining in the class.  

 

Five teams competed in yesterday’s pivotal tie-breaking event. Amazingly, all were battery electric vehicles. They were: Aptera (California, USA), Li-Ion Motors (North Carolina, USA), RaceAbout Association (Finland), TW4XP (Germany), and ZAP (California, USA). These teams had to travel 50 laps around the Speedway’s 2-mile oval, covering a full 100 miles as fast as possible, without exceeding 70mph while never going any slower than 45mph. There was one twist: The vehicles had to navigate something racers call a “chicane,” a bend in the track that would force each car to brake, turn, and accelerate to race speed on every lap. The total time to complete the course and each vehicle’s fuel efficiency, measured as MPGe, would be important factors in determining the winning vehicle.

 

On a clear and balmy Tuesday morning, drivers strapped into their vehicles as their anxious teammates looked on. To the assembled crowd at the speedway, the excitement on the track was palpable.

 

At the halfway point, Li-Ion Motors trailed the lead car from RaceAbout Association by mere seconds. But as the laps ticked off, the distinctive green Li-Ion Motors car drew ever closer, slowly narrowing the gap. With just a few laps to go, the margin stood at just under three seconds. It truly would be a race to finish. Here are the final results:

 

Team Li-Ion finished first by a narrow 0.179 seconds!  RaceAbout placed second and TW4XP third by 11 minutes, 36.9 seconds.  

 

ZAP completed 48 laps and Aptera completed 18 laps. Both experienced mechanical issues that forced them off the track before completing the test.

 

There were a few penalties assessed for speed violations:

· Team Li-ion received 1 penalty for driving under 45 mph

· RaceAbout received 2 penalties for exceeding 70 mph

· TW4XP had 4 penalties for being under 45 mph

 

Mileage numbers are proving impressive given the stress of this real world challenge on the contenders. For those who completed the race, Team Li-Ion achieved a respectable 125 MPGe and RaceAbout achieved 100 MPGe.  Though placing third, TW4XP achieved a remarkable 138.9 MPGe.

 

Today, we’re closing up operations at Michigan International Speedway and preparing to head over to Chrysler’s Chelsea Proving Grounds for two days of Coast Down testing before our Finalists are taken to Argonne National Lab facilities in Chicago for their final Validation tests.  A total of nine teams remain in the running for a portion of the prize purse. Edison2 (and their two Mainstream Class vehicles); X-Tracer (and their two Alternative Class Tandem vehicles); and Aptera, Li-Ion Motors, RaceAbout Association, TW4XP, and ZAP (in the Alternative Class Side-by-Side group) round out the crop of finalists moving onto Validation.

We’re only a few steps away from seeing which three of these teams will prevail!

Continue watching for updates on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr! 

 

Final Day of Finals -- Teams on the Homestretch for Multi-Million Dollar Prize Purses

The first week of Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE finals brought the competitive field from 15 vehicles at the start of the week to 11 vehicles by the end of the day on Friday 7/23. After a weekend away from the track, the remaining competitors have once again taken the track for the Dynamic Safety tests today. Teams demonstrated that they could meet requirements for 0 - 60mph acceleration, 60 - 0mph braking, and accident avoidance tests. 

Two additional teams have been eliminated (preliminary) from the competition after today's events: Western Washington University and the Edison2 #95 car. The WWU Viking 45 vehicle did not pass the accident avoidance test within the 6 attempt limit (they did complete the course on attempt #9), and the Edison2 #95 car had mechanical troubles that prevented it from completing the day's tests. 

This brings us to the exciting final day of the finals event. Nine vehicles remain: 2 Edison2 vehicles in the mainstream class, 2 X-Tracer vehicles in alternative tandem, and 5 competitors in the alternative side-by-side category (Aptera, Li-ion Motors, RaceAbout, Zap, and TW4XP). Teams will compete in a timed event called the "Combined Efficiency and Performance Test", in which they will travel a minimum of 100 miles for the alternative classes and 200 miles for the mainstream class. Teams may not exceed 70mph, but the total time to complete the course and MPGe will be important factors that will be considered when determining the winning vehicle for each class. Live telemetry and a webcast of the event will take place on Tuesday, 7/27, starting at 8am EDT. Please visit http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/live to tune in for the action, and watch for updates on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr!  

What it Takes to Make it to the Validation Stage

With the release of the results of efficiency testing from Week 1 of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, followers of the competition might be wondering why vehicles that didn't quite reach 100 MPGe on the track are moving on to Week 2 events.

As it turns out, to qualify for their share of the $10 million Grand Prize, teams must average 100 MPGe when their on-track results are combined with results from the lab. Thus, a team whose vehicle didn't quite peg 100 MPGe at the speedway could conceivably make up the difference during Validation Stage testing next month.

Given this, competition officials set the bar at 90 MPGe as the number to beat to progress to the next stage. For example, one of Edison2's entries (#97) came in at 95.6 MPGe and Western Washington University's vehicle (#45) scored 97.2 MPGe on last week's efficiency test. Presuming they pass the remaining tests, both cars will advance to the next stage.

With the on-track elements behind them, the surviving Finalists move on to coast down testing at Chrysler's Proving Grounds in Chelsea, Michigan where each vehicle will be instrumented, accelerated up to 80 mph on a flat level road course, put in neutral (or its equivalent), and quite literally coasted to a stop. Sensors record three key pieces of data: (1) Aerodynamic Resistance, (2) Rolling Resistance, and (3) Mechanical Resistance. Each is a key input to the Validation Stage testing.

Validation Stage testing will be conducted throughout August at Argonne National Lab facilities just outside Chicago. There, on-track performance will be verified on dynamometers and final eligibility for the Grand Prize will be determined. The winners will be announced at a formal awards ceremony in Washington, DC September 16.

Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Wraps First Week of Finals Stage

Revised 7/26/10

The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE has just put the wraps on week 1 of the Finals Stage, and what an exciting week it has been. The week began with technical inspections and, once all teams got the green light from competition officials, quickly moved to the on-track test events.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the remaining 15 vehicles from 12 teams competed in a 136 mile Efficiency event spanning two days and comprised of Urban, City, and Highway driving. All vehicles had to achieve 90 MPGe (vehicles must average at least 100 MPGe when combined with Validation Stage results).  On Friday, our focus was on Range, where vehicles had to show that they could achieve the 100 or 200 mile range requirement in the Alternative and Mainstream classes, respectively.  Both the efficiency and range tests were elimination events.

It was a steamy few days in Michigan, which meant teams were up against an even bigger challenge:  keeping their vehicles cool while meeting all the other performance targets.

The teams performed superbly, but as Friday afternoon wore on, it was clear that not all teams were going to advance to the second week of Finals. 

• Amp met the requirement of 90 MPGe, but exceeded the maximum threshold of 200 grams per mile of CO₂ in the Efficiency Event.  The team was also unable to complete all of the required laps in the Range Event.

• Commuter Cars’ Tango was unable to meet the minimum fuel economy requirement and exceeded the maximum threshold of 200g/mile CO₂ in the Efficiency Event.  The team was also unable to complete the required laps within the Range Event.

• Spira was unable to meet the minimum fuel economy requirement of 90 MPGe.

• 7/25 update: Tata was unable to present their vehicle for the Range Test due to a technical issue and their status in the competition is currently pending.

The above teams have agreed to remain with us next week and demonstrate their technology and vehicle capabilities in the Dynamic Safety Events on Monday as well as the Combined Performance and Efficiency Event on Tuesday.  The scores achieved by the teams will be posted on our website, though not considered in the awarding of the prize purses.

So where do we go from here? Next week’s events will include the Dynamic Safety Event and Combined Performance and Efficiency Event.

The Dynamic Safety Event, conducted by our auto test partners at Consumer Reports, consists of an acceleration (0 to 60 MPH) test, a braking (60 to 0 MPH) test, and an accident avoidance test at 45mph (emergency double lane change). Teams must pass these challenges to advance to the subsequent Validation Stage or face elimination.

The Finals Stage culminates in the Combined Performance and Efficiency Event to be held on the 2 mile oval and scored based on time. Unlike previous tests, this is not an elimination event. Rather, this challenge serves as the tie-breaker for those vehicles that manage to pass all the other requirements and hit the 100 MPGe threshold. Remember, there are no extra points for exceeding 100 MPGe. Rather, it is the fastest car in each class that will win the Grand Prize.

Only the teams that successfully complete all of the above events, and meet the minimum requirements and thresholds for efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, and range, will continue on to Coast Down at the Chrysler Proving Grounds and the Validation Stage at Argonne National Lab. We are set to award the prize on September 16^th.

Click here for more information about next week’s events. View current team standings on our Web site at http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/team-central. Track team successes and watch the action live via streaming video at http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/live.

DASH+ Grand Prize Experience Wraps up in Michigan

Our DASH+ Grand Prize Winners, EDV Technologies continued their action-packed VIP tour of Motor City with more unique opportunities to learn about the automotive and environmental industries from an insider’s perspective. 

  
       

The team, along with Connie Bezanson from the U.S. Department of Energy, team mentor Kevin Schantz, and dads Jim Moghtader and Val Noronha visited the College for Creative Studies where they met with an admissions counselor and had a design session with a CCS professor. 

 

The team visited the environmentally friendly "green roof" Ford Rouge Factory, where Ford F-150s are assembled.... 
   

     

....and took in a Detroit Tigers game. 

They met with environmental professionals and toured the facilities used to test emissions standards at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prior to heading out to the Michigan International Speedway to witness the final stages of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE competition.  After meeting with the competing teams and checking out the cars, they toured the MIS grounds and garages, and were guests of honor at the DASH+ awards ceremony. Their visit was capped off with a spin on the MIS track in the Official Progressive Automotive X PRIZE Pace Car.

  

And after three amazing days in Michigan, Team EDV headed home to Santa Barbara.....

 

Following the Finals of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE

Years of hard work by staff, teams, and volunteers involved with the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE has finally culminated at the Finals Event of the competition. 12 remaining teams are putting their vehicles to the ultimate test this week, meeting minimum efficiency requirements of 100MPGe, minimum range requirements of 100 miles (alternative class) / 200 miles (mainstream class), and required safety standards.

At this point, you're probably thinking, "That sounds cool. So what's the best way to follow the Finals?" Well, here is your quick guide to following the PIAXP events happening over the next several days. 

Come Visit the Michigan International Speedway

Seeing these amazingly fuel-efficient cars in action and speaking to the teams firsthand about their vehicles is a truly unique experience -- and one that the public is invited to take part in on Friday, July 23! If you are in the area, we are pleased to invite you to the Michigan International Speedway so that you can see the Finals event, speak to the teams, and see the cars up close. Here are the details:

• Event is free!
• The Speedway will be open to the public from 10am - 4pm. 
• Use the Brooklyn Highway entrance to the Michigan International Speedway. You will then be directed to the designated parking area.
• Vehicles will be available for viewing, teams will be available for questions. Finals events will be taking place on the track. 

We hope to see you at the track!

Track the PIAXP online -- we're everywhere!

Follow the competition online by visiting the "Live" section of the website, at http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/live. On this page you can:

• View the competition schedule and event details
• View real-time telemetry of cars on the track, including MPGe and track position
• Watch the live webcast and chat with X PRIZE/team members, or cheer on your favorite team
• View recent YouTube videos, Flickr photos, Facebok and Twitter updates

This is sure to be an action-packed week as the competition heats up and the winners of $10 Million in prize purses are determined. We hope that you'll share the excitement with us! 

DASH+ Grand Prize Experience in Michigan

Monday, July 19, 2010

 

Greetings from Motor City!   

 

The DASH+ Grand Prize Experience trip has gotten off to a great start!  This morning, EDV Technologies team members Kelvin Noronha, Jake Moghtader and Nikhil Shinday wowed our panel of auto experts with the presentation of their dashboard of the future.  The panel was particularly impressed by the dashboard’s unique feature which awards Green Points for eco-friendly driving. The auto industry experts recognized the importance of incentivizing more fuel-efficient driving and leveraging shared information through social networks. Again and again, the panel expressed their admiration of the team’s hard work and good thinking.

Following the presentation , the panel engaged in a thoughtful Q&A session with the students.  The team was asked about:

 

 

 

 

· Their motivation for developing such a forward-thinking design

·  The unintended consequences of a system that rewards drivers for particular driving habits

· What types of audience research was conducted by the team

 

After the panel, the team was joined by leading battery expert Ann Marie Sastry of Sakti3 for a private luncheon where the conversation focused on innovation.  During the lunch, the team learned about Dr. Sastry’s experience in the industry and received valuable feedback and advice.

 

Later in the afternoon, the team toured The  Henry Ford with an archivist who walked the team through the history of the automobile.  At the conclusion of the tour, he reminded the students that the future of the museum depends on continued innovations from creative young minds like the EDV Technologies team.  They also had the privilege of stopping by to check out their own work in our Under the Hood, Drive Change Today exhibit, which is another key part of our national education outreach, also funded by the U.S.Department of Energy.

 

Next the team explored the museum's Greenfield Village for a ride on a real Model T Ford, a vintage steam engine, and an exploration of the lives of past inventors, including Thomas Edison and the Wright brothers.

 

We’ve had a great first day here in the Detroit area.  Check back tomorrow for an overview of the day’s activities. 

MPGe for the Dashboard

It was interesting and fun to watch the efficiency tests during the Knockout Qualifying Stage of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE:

   

Watching this event reminded me that, as more alternative-fuel and high-efficiency vehicles come to market,  consumers will want dashboard instrumentation that helps them to maximize efficiency.   What information would best serve that purpose?   

Years ago, efficiency-conscious drivers had to write down odometer and pump readings when buying gasoline, and then do the math.   Today, many vehicles include real-time dashboard displays of instantaneous and average miles-per-gallon (MPG), something that efficiency-conscious drivers appreciate and make use of.  

Unfortunately, while it’s simple and well-understood, MPG is obsolete for two main reasons: the growing popularity of alternative fuels, and the emergence of vehicles powered by multiple fuels (most importantly, plug-in hybrids that use electricity plus gasoline or another liquid fuel). 

Comparing the MPG of gasoline with the MPG of ethanol (to use one example) is like the proverbial comparison of apples to oranges; besides, what’s a gallon of electricity?   For a Plug-in-Hybrid-Electric-Vehicle (PHEV), MPG is even more misleading (at best, it tells just part of the story – e.g., accounting for just the liquid fuel but not the electricity).  

If you’ve been following the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, you know that we think that the best replacement for MPG is MPGe – miles per gallon energy equivalent), defined as

MPGe =  (miles driven) / [(total energy of all fuels consumed)/(energy of one gallon of gasoline)]

Like MPG, MPGe is a pump (or plug!) to wheels measure – it only depends on the inherent efficiency of your vehicle and how you drive it.   Some have argued that “MPGe” should be defined as a well-to-wheels measure that also accounts for upstream energy conversion losses during fuel production and transportation.  While such well-to-wheel measures indeed have their place, the dashboard isn’t one of them.  

Consumers understand pump-to-wheels measures – nobody does a well-to-wheels calculation when they refuel. Furthermore, upstream fuel efficiencies are ambiguous as they involve controversial and changing-in-time assumptions and predictions on which proponents of different fuels rarely agree.  Note also that that well-to-pump efficiencies are in many cases addressed indirectly by the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE requirement on total well-to-wheels CO2 emissions.

MPGe is a simple, well-defined measure of overall vehicle efficiency.  In effect, it replaces the question

“How far can I drive on a fixed amount of gasoline?”

with the question

“How far can I drive on a fixed amount of energy?”.  

MPGe is easy to explain, depends only on your vehicle and how you drive it, accounts in a neutral manner for any combination of fuels, and reduces to the familiar MPG in the case of gasoline fuel only.  To further explore MPGe, check out the spreadsheet available here.

MPGe can be calculated easily from on-board measurements of fuel(s) flow and distance traveled.   Here’s hoping that you’ll see it on your dashboard soon.