Hybrid Car Review

The Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize announced they have 111 teams registered to compete for the $10 million prize. The teams need to win a 'rigorous long distance stage competition while exceeding 100 MPGe (Miles per Gallon equivalent).

The video shows some teams are a little more polished than others. There are two classes, Mainstream and Alternative. A separate competition will be held for the Demonstration Division, designed for large established auto manufacturers to showcase their own fuel efficient vehicles.

The 111 teams have registered with 136 vehicles with 14 different fuel sources. They are coming from 25 different US states and 11 different countries. Established automakers, emerging start-ups, universities and inventors are among those represented. Six of the Registered Teams remain confidential.

Design testing is next, where the contestants will be judged on their vehicle's features, production capability, safety and business plans. Those that pass Design Judging will move into the performance testing phase and partake in a series of competition events that will begin as early as May 2010. Winners will be announced in 2010.

The competition start date, the number of venues, and the geographic distribution of venues will be determined prior to July 2009.

"We are thrilled with the wide variety of teams and technologies from around the world that are joining us in this competition," said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and CEO, The X PRIZE Foundation. Being accepted as a Registered Team is a major milestone. This is also an exciting step for the Foundation as we move closer to our goal of inspiring a new generation of real, clean, safe and super fuel-efficient vehicles."

"The level of American innovation and entrepreneurship we're seeing in the Automotive X PRIZE is encouraging," said Senator Jeff Bingaman, Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee. "It's also a positive response to many of the challenges confronting the U.S. auto industry. I applaud these teams for the important work they're doing for our nation's energy future."