By Scott Pohl, WKAR
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-879975.mp3
DETROIT, MI –
A multi-million dollar incentive program to produce highly efficient and marketable cars will play itself out in Michigan this year.
90.5-WKAR's Scott Pohl reports on the Automotive X-Prize.
AUDIO: The X-Prize Foundation first gained attention for a $10,000,000 prize for developments in practical space flight. In 2007, it announced rules for a similar prize, hoping to lead to reduced fuel consumption and environmental impact in the auto industry.
Cristin Lindsay, vice president of prize operations, says entrants first had to prove themselves in qualifying events.
"The way you do that is to get in excess of 100 miles per gallon or its equivalent," Lindsay explains, "and to meet our emissions standards. After that, it's all timed, in our race events."
The competition will have a public event in Lansing in April. Road tests and inspections will be conducted at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. Validation testing will be done at the EPA labs in Ann Arbor and the Argonne National Labs in Chicago. Results are expected in September.
Some of the cars can be seen at the auto show in Detroit this week.