Almost three-and-a-half years after the X Prize Foundation formally launched a competition to find a reasonably priced car with a fuel efficiency of 100 kilometres per 2.35 litres of petrol (100 miles per gallon), the winners have been announced. The initial field of 136 vehicles from 111 teams was gradually whittled down to just seven car models – all of which can be viewed in our gallery.
Very Light Car
Edison2, based in Lynchburg, Virginia, was the only team left standing in the “mainstream” class for four-seater vehicles with at least 280 litres of cargo space. Two of its E85 alcohol-powered vehicles, dubbed the Very Light Car, recorded an efficiency of 102.5 miles per gallon equivalent (mpge) – just enough to qualify for the top prize of $5 million.
(Image: X Prize Foundation)
E-Tracer
Swiss team X-Tracer, based in Winterthur, similarly dominated the tandem section of the “alternative” class – for two-seater vehicles with the passenger seated behind the driver. Its two electric E-Tracer vehicles are essentially enclosed motorcycles, fitted with stabiliser wheels for low-speed travel. The winning E-Tracer achieved an efficiency of 187.6 mpge, and X-Tracer bagged $2.5 million of the prize money.
(Image: X Prize Foundation)
Aptera 2e
Aptera, based in New York and Hampton, Virginia, qualified for the final stage of the side-by-side section of the alternative class. The all-electric Aptera 2e vehicle can travel 100 miles on a single charge.
(Image: X Prize Foundation)
Race About
RaceAbout, designed by Finnish team RaceAbout Association, also made it to the final stage of the side-by-side section. The battery-electric vehicle is the product of researchers and students at the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, which has a 20-year tradition of making prototype cars.
(Image: X Prize Foundation)
Alias
Zap is based in Santa Rosa, California. Its vehicle Alias was another to reach the final of the side-by-side section. The electric three-wheeler is battery-powered, and also boasts many features found in standard cars, including power steering and onboard GPS.
(Image: X Prize Foundation)
TWX4P
Team TWX4P and its eponymous vehicle also reached the final stage of the side-by-side section. The battery-electric vehicle also has a pedalling mechanism, making it a “hybrid of electricity and human power” according to the team, which is based in Rosenthal, Germany.
(Image: X Prize Foundation)
Wave 2
Winner in the side-by-side section, the battery-electric Wave 2 by team Li-ion Motors, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, achieved 187 mpge. Despite its outlandish design, the Wave 2 is equipped with mod cons such as heating, air conditioning, power windows and GPS.
(Image: X Prize Foundation)
