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The Progressive X-Prize

And our local University has a good chance of winning it. From the Western Washington University Vehicle Research Institute website:

Automobile magazine dubbed Western Washington University's Vehicle Research Institute "very possibly the best school in the country for total car design." We've assembled a team of eager students to compete in the Progressive Automotive X-Prize Challenge.

The goal of the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the teams that win a stage race for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 MPGe. The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE will place a major focus on affordability, safety, and the environment. It is about developing real, production-capable cars that consumers want to buy, not science projects or concept cars. This progress is needed because today's oil consumption is unsustainable and because automotive emissions significantly contribute to global warming and climate change.

The home page for the X-Prize is here: Progressive Insurance Automotive X-PRIZE A fun way to jump-start innovation and fuel efficiency. WWU has an excellent mechanical engineering program as well -- almost worth taking a couple credits just to use their huge machine shop. Posted by DaveH at April 5, 2010 6:38 PM | TrackBack