Automotive X-Prize judges separating out chaff teams
The road to actually compete in the Progressive Automotive X Prize is a tough one. We've been following the competition since well before the official Day One, and we can't quite understand the difference between all of the different levels that a team can be considered. What we do know is that the AXP's judges are hard at work these days looking over the submissions of the Registered Teams, deciding which vehicles will be allowed to continue as part of the Qualified Teams. After the initial pass, teams with vehicles deemed good enough to continue will need to pass "an even more rigorous design gate later this Fall before being deemed ready to showcase their vehicle on the ground next Spring," writes Steve Wesoloski, AXP's Senior Advisor, Deputy Technical Operations.
An official announcement on the list of Qualified Teams will be made later this fall. At least, that's the latest schedule. Originally, the road race portions were supposed to start in New York City in September 2009, but this has been pushed back to sometime in 2010.
[Source: Auto X-Prize]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gorr 7:56PM (8/30/2009)
This event seem badly organized. No fun website, no good description of the teams and theirs cars, no weekly tv show, nothing to show so we can choose teams to follow or to back for the event. Im sure big oil and big corporations are backing this to spy on anyone having a good idea and they will backed someone at the end that put 100 lbs of air pressure in his new low rolling resistance tires with an empty trunk and drive with his windows closed without air conditionning and that drive at 5 mph under the limit and walk to the grocery store if it's less then one mile.
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Ray Holan 9:18AM (8/31/2009)
I've heard rumblings from some teams about non-responsiveness from the organizing body EXCEPT when it comes to asking for the next registration fee check. Where's the PR? Website? Blog? Old school newsletter?
Sounds like it might be worth Sebastian or someone at ABG talking to the X-Prize folks about their side of the story. Seems like it's for well-heeled teams only and low-budget operations need not apply. Leaves me curious about what's really going on with what, on the surface of it, seems like a noble effort to showcase some innovative thinking in the realm of efficient personal transportation.
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Chris M 7:01PM (8/31/2009)
The teams have to be "well heeled" enough to be able to build their own vehicles, and with enough business savvy to make a credible business production case. Those with nothing more than a vague "idea" need not apply. Still, several teams are low budget, including a few college teams and the West Philly High School group, not a lot of money but a lot of hard workers and some good engineering.
Their "Website" is here:
http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/
which includes information on the teams and links to their websites (if they have one).
Their blog is here:
http://autoblog.xprize.org/axp/
They've already done some promotional efforts, but there will be a lot more news coverage once the road testing begins next spring.