100Mpg
Latest
West Philly High preps plug-in hybrid in bid for Auto X Prize
While we spent our high school days trying not to cut our thumbs off in shop class, these West Philly High School kids have been making a run on the $10 million Automotive X Prize. They're building a plug-in diesel hybrid in an attempt to reach that magical 100 mpg mark "without sacrificing style, safety or affordability." Pictured above is a previous project, a K1 Attack modded up hybrid and biofuel-style. Seems like they've got the chops, but they're certainly up against a lot of competition.
Automotive X-Prize challenge ignored by major carmakers
Sure, you'd think that major automakers would want to get in on the Automotive X-Prize challenge, a contest seeking to help create the first 100 MPG car, if only just to show off their engineering prowess and interest in future technologies. Of course, you'd be wrong. Not a single, big commercial carmaker has thrown its hat in the ring, and X-Prize organizer Donald Foley has a theory: fear of losing the game to a small start-up. Obviously, all the major players have an excuse when it comes to their lack of participation; Ford is busy with its EcoBoost program, GM is working with Carnegie Mellon University on similar technology. Unfortunately, the loser here is the consumer, who'd get another push towards more fuel efficient vehicles, resulting in less money spent at the increasingly pricey pump. It looks like another sign that the innovation which used to come from monolithic corporations is now emanating from the little guy. Can the Linux Car be far off?
