The X Prize Foundation, which Ansari X Prize [wiki] for a privately funded spacecraft was won by SpaceShipOne [wiki] in 2004 (left pic), is now offering a new prize: the Automotive X Prize.
The contest will require vehicles to meet tough emission requirements and get 100 miles per U.S. gallon (about 42 kilometres a litre). The current average fuel economy of U.S. vehicles is about 20 miles per gallon (nine km/l).
The competition is intended "to inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles that help break our addiction to oil and stem the effects of climate change," the foundation said on its website.
Link | Automotive X Prize website - Thanks David R!
Public transit, not fancy 100mpg one or two seaters (no one can afford anyway) and a life-style adjustment are what is needed, sadly we're behind the rest of the developed world in all these parts and this bodes badly for our future as a nation.
Instead of squandering $500 billion on the war (so far) we really could have used that money to replace (yes, get rid of, and build new) Amtrak and link America's cities by high speed rail, not unsustainable super highways.
Until the 49% of Americans who have never used public transit, think buses and bicycles are for poor people, and have the insane need to "feel safe" in their hulking SUVs get on board with the rest of us things are going to get a lot worse before they get better.
If mass produced the cost would be viable for the public.
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