$10 Million Green Car - X Prize Challenge

Do you know what it takes to produce a green car people will actually want to buy? If you do, you could win $10 million.

The latest X Prize challenge was announced at the New York Auto Show, and this year they’re challenging creative innovators to come up with an eco-friendly car that people would be happy to buy and cruise around in. It has to be “viable, clean and super-efficient” and encourage society to “break our addiction to oil and stem the effects of climate change,” according to the foundation.

60 teams from around the world have already signed on to compete for a $10 million purse. They have to be more than cool concept design; they’ve got to be ready to be put on the market. The teams have to design the cars, build them, and then put them to the test in both the Qualifying Race and the Grand Prize Final which will take place in 2009.

“In the races, the cars will have to hit a minimum speed and achieve a fuel efficiency of at least 100 miles per gallon of gasoline energy equivalent,” Yahoo news explains.

Each car has to have at least two seats, but after that, requirements depend on the division being entered. One is the tradition class which seats four or more and rides on four wheels. They have to be able to go from 0-60 in 12 seconds and go at least 100 mph; these are most likely to become mainstream. The alternative class, however, is the where the fun designs come in; there is no restriction on number of wheels, and they have to go at least 80 mph.

Here’s one design that plans on entering:

The Alé – 0 to 60 in 5 Seconds on Three Wheels While Running on Vapor (GALLERY)

Two wheels in the front one in the back, this car is nothing if not unusual. Its vapor fuel system is ultra efficient and produces 30% less CO2. FuelVapor Technologies plan to enter the Alé in the Automotive X-Prize for the most fuel efficient production car. [More]

Check out last year’s competition, the $10 million Ansari X Prize:

Space Blogs - Ansari Blogs From Zero Gravity

Anousheh Ansari, sponsor of the X-Prize, has made her commercial voyage into space.  In addition to being the first female space tourist, she created the first commercial Space Blog by documenting her adventures.  In her Space Blog, describes her insights and reflects upon everything from velcro to … [More]

Google is offering an X Prize of their own:

Google’s Lunar Lure - $30M For Private Landing (VIDEO)

Google and the X-Prize Foundation have launched a contest offering $12 million to the first group to perform a series of tasks on a private moon landing. The contest will run until 2012, at which time the winner will receive their prize, and the second-place prize of $5 million will be awarded as we… [More]