Competition Heats Up For Auto X-Prize

Hybrid Technologies, one of the entrants in the Progressive Automotive X-Prize has introduced its entry, which the company says will achieve a whopping 220 MPG. The North Carolina firm is no stranger to high performance vehicles, having brought its 600-hp, electric L1X-75 carbon-fiber vehicle to the 2008 New York Auto Show. The L1X-75 prototype can reach 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and has a top speed of 175 mph, with a range of about 200 miles per charge.

The X-Prize entry is not yet built, but the company expects to have a drivable version by September. Drawings produced by the company give the vehicle a sportscar look and the company is reportedly developing two different models: a full-electric vehicle and an extended-range electric hybrid. The yet-to-be-named X Prize entry is thought to borrow heavily from the L1X-75.

The entry will compete in the Mainstream class, which requires the vehicle to hold at least four passengers, have four wheels and achieve a 0-60 acceleration in less than 12 second. Mainstream entries also must offer a minimum top speed of 100 mph, a minimum range of 200 miles between refueling or recharging and must be able to decelerate from 60-0 mph in no more than 170 feet. Each entry must also have heat and air conditioning, an audio system and a real-time eco-feedback display that provides up-to-the minute information on fuel economy, drive-train efficiency and emissions. The company has not indicated which prototype will compete in the race.

Source: Motor Authority, Progressive Automotive X-Prize