Multi-Million Dollar Competition Narrowing Search for U.S. Cities
Interested in Hosting Stages of the Cross Country Race
SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As American
consumers face record-breaking prices at the gas pump and rethink their
driving habits, the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a
multi-million dollar competition designed to inspire a new generation of
super fuel efficient vehicles, is finding strong interest from U.S. cities
vying to host a stage of its 2009-2010 competition.
The technology-neutral competition, a project of the X PRIZE
Foundation, is open to teams from around the world that can design and
build production-capable, 100 MPGe (miles per gallon energy equivalent)
vehicles that people will want to buy and that meet market needs for price,
size, capability, safety and performance. Winners of the $10 million prize
purse will need to exceed 100 MPG equivalent fuel economy, fall under
strict emissions caps and finish in the fastest time.
Since distributing a request for proposal (RFP) to the top 100 U.S.
media markets in April, the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE has been in
discussions with city, state and community leaders across the country
interested in the opportunity to host a stage race and simultaneously
showcase their own local green efforts. Cities representing a diverse
geographic and demographic mix -- such as Albuquerque, Boston, Cleveland,
Dallas, Detroit, Denver, Indianapolis, New York, Las Vegas, Long Beach,
Portland, San Francisco, Seattle and St. Louis -- have all expressed
interest in the competition.
The cross country stage race will begin in New York City in September
2009, and will continue in up to nine other major markets throughout the
United States. Each stage race will feature a driving competition over
city, suburban and rural roads between 30 and 200 miles in length. The
Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is interested in offering diverse geographic
and driving "real world" conditions, including the potential for slick and
snowy roads, mountainous conditions and downtown city streets.
To date, 94 teams from 14 countries and 24 states have signed Letters
of Intent to compete. The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE continues to
solicit additional teams to enter the competition, which is open to
established automakers as well as start-ups. For a complete list, visit
http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org.
"The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is a call to action to promote and
inspire innovation in vehicle technology," said Don Foley, Executive
Director of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE. "As part of that goal, we
are excited by the opportunity to celebrate the many U.S. cities that are
making major strides in energy and conservation. We look forward to
announcing the final lineup later this fall."
The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE will continue to accept proposals
from U.S. cities through the end of the summer. Interested parties should
email progressiveautoprize@xprize.org to request a copy of the RFP, or to
arrange a meeting with the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE staff.
About the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE Competition:
The goal of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new
generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more
consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the
teams that win a stage race for clean, production-capable vehicles that
exceed 100 MPGe.
The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE will place a major focus on
affordability, safety and the environment. It is about developing real,
production-capable cars that consumers want to buy, not science projects or
concept cars. This progress is needed because today's oil consumption is
unsustainable and because automotive emissions significantly contribute to
global warming and climate change.
For more information about the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE, please
visit http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org or email
progressiveautopress@xprize.org.
About the X PRIZE Foundation
The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute
whose
mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity.
In
2004, the Foundation captured the world's attention when the Burt
Rutan-led
team, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the
world's
first private spaceship to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for
suborbital
spaceflight. The Foundation has since launched the $10 million Archon X
PRIZE for Genomics, the $30 million Google Lunar X PRIZE, and the $10
million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE. The Foundation, and
its
revolution partner BT Global Services, are creating prizes in
Exploration
(Space and Oceans), Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, Education and
Global Development. The Foundation is widely recognized as the leading
model for fostering innovation through competition. For more
information,
please visit http://www.xprize.org.
About Progressive:
Progressive, founded in 1937, is a leading insurer of cars,
motorcycles, recreation vehicles, boats, personal watercraft and commercial
vehicles. The company offers competitive rates and products that meet
drivers' needs throughout their lifetimes as well as 24/7 online and
in-person customer and claims service.
Progressive's products and services are available locally through more
than 30,000 independent insurance agencies in the U.S., online at
progressive.com and by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE (1-800-776-4737).
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s),
click appropriate link.
Don Foley
http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=78384
SOURCE X PRIZE Foundation
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org
http://www.xprize.org
CONTACT:
Carrie Fox, +1-202-255-9214,
Carrie.Fox@xprize.org, for X PRIZE Foundation
|
