Automotive X Prize considers ways to include 100-mpg Volt

General Motors and federal regulators have reached a preliminary agreement on a fuel-economy testing method for the Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric car that will assure that Volt earns a mileage rating of at least 100 miles per gallon, according to a story from Bloomberg News. The Volt -- an electric vehicle with a range-extending gas-powered generator on board -– is due to go on sale in November 2010. The government’s certification would make the Volt the first production car to reach the century-mileage mark.

So why isn’t GM competing in the Automotive X Prize?

Officially known as the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize, the $10-million shootout is open to teams who can “design, build and bring to market 100 MPGe [miles per gallon equivalent] vehicles that people want to buy, and that meet market needs for price, size, capability, safety and performance,” according the AXP organizers. Well, that’s the Volt in spades, isn’t it?

“I know it was considered very carefully,” said GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan. “Candidly, it was because we’re already locked into a hyper-competitive race with other manufacturers and we wanted to stay focused on that.”

So far, more than 120 teams from around the world have signed up to compete in the AXP –- created by the same Santa Monica-based foundation that organized the Ansari X Prize for private suborbital space flight (won in 2004 by Burt Rutan). Notable competitors include Tata Motors of India and rock legend Neil Young, who is entering a hybrid biodiesel version of a 1960 Lincoln Continental. Qualifying competitors will compete in a series of stages beginning in September 2009, with the final stage occurring in the second quarter of 2010. With the exception of Tata, no other mainstream manufacturer has expressed an interest in competing, to the dismay of AXP organizers.

“We would love to have them compete,” said John Shore, senior director of AXP. “The problem for [automakers] is risk.” The AXP competition will be based on vehicles’ mileage (greater than 100 mpg equivalent), their carbon output (less than 200 grams per mile), and their speed (AXP has even approached the Indianapolis Speedway to host the final staged event).

Virtually all the vehicles entered will be lightweight experimental models optimized for speed and efficiency. The Volt, on the other hand (and a plug-in version of the Toyota Prius too) would be weighed down with airbags, comfy seats, air-conditioning and other amenities.

“GM would be understandably nervous about not winning the competition, about some university team or a couple of guys in a garage winning and then the headlines is, 'Small Town America Topples GM,' ” said Shore.

The situation presents the AXP with a conundrum too, namely that the very kind of vehicle the competition is meant to foster –- real-world, mass-production, affordable and hyper-efficient –- cannot actually win.

To resolve that dilemma, Shore said AXP organizers are “looking for ways to allow GM and other OEMs [automakers] to be in the X Prize that don’t subject them to unfair comparisons.” He expects such a proposal might be floated to the automakers before the end of the year. “Until then,” said Shore, “our message to them is: Just don’t say no.

"We strongly believe you don't have to win the competition to win in the marketplace," Shore said.

-- Dan Neil

Comments

[guineapigzed]

Would you please stop Passing on the bull from GM! They already had an electric car that they did not want to sell!
Since I was six, they have lied to me and everyone else.
"We'll have an electric car as soon as the battery catches up."
I listened to that lie. They had it. They stopped selling it. So I buy a Volt, Then their User agreement will include a clause that they can crush it when they want? Or if you look at the battery pack ( removing the seal of GM. ) On Star will call the police and have you arrested. Sorry GM, Go under!
I think your company should clean up the environmental mess your product has made.
If GM does come through with an electric car, I will also expect a Jet pack, A million dollars, world peace, etc..

[Dion Kraft from Paramount, CA]

The contest is very SIMPLE. The first car that achives the criteria is the winner. So what is GM to do. MAKE a competitive vehicle that will get the job done. If your your going to have a contest that will be MORE REAL WORLD then you need to weigh down the test vehicles with REAL world weight that would simulate Airbags, AC/heating, upholstery and the like. If your vehicle could win with lets say 800lbs of weight penalty and everyone had the same weight as well it would be a fair contest would it not?
Ofcourse the way to do it would be to MOLD the weight into a chassis or a body to achieve even distribution or body aerodynamics I suppose...
Two 400lbs seats? Ahhh the choices!

[Robert]

"Would you please stop Passing on the bull from GM! They already had an electric car that they did not want to sell!"

Sure, and there's a 200 mpg carburettor.
GM certainly didn't handle the public image part of their EV program well, but there are mediocre fat corporate exces and lawyers involved.
They would have been *very* happy to sell the thing if you and 50,000 others would have stepped up to buy them at the full cost to produce and develop them - over 100K, and then pony up much more to modernize it for today's safety standards, which would add weight and cut the car's range.

You have the typical American mentality of "gimme gimme gimme", you want advanced technology but not the compromises that come with it. There is already a perfect environmental vehicle; it's known as the bicycle. There are even electric assist models available now. Not good enough? Here is a list of electric cars available now; there are discontinued older models also.
http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/electricvehicles/tp/2008-Electric-Vehicles.htm

[GuineaPigZed]

No one ever saw the Pouge Carb on a mas production vehicle! ( So called 200 mph carb. )
GM never asked any one to buy an EV-1.
They had already spent the money!
I did look at your page Robert, Lots of eye candy.
None of them come close to the Electric Rave that was put out by Toyota ( Yea , I know, with stolen, copied , whatever, technology from GM.) Five people, normal 85 miles an hour.
Plugs into Costco for free.
I am not asking for any new technology.
PS I would take the french, Eliica. I like the way it makes fun of GMs' Saturn commercial.
It used to go something like "It doesn't have six wheels, and its not Atomic powered! ,Bla Bla Bla)
Yes I do want six wheels and Atomic power!