This morning when I opened up my newspaper and started reading the front page. There was an article in regards to a regional team that is competing for the Automotive X PRIZE. Now the interesting thing here is that the article makes it seem as if this goal hasn’t been accomplished already. Granted there is no commercially available vehicle that I am aware that meets the 100 mpg standard. Unless you include electric vehicles into the mix. Although the overall range of an electric between charges is still somewhat limited. From a quick glance at the Automotive X PRIZE competition PDF file there is no mention of alternative fuels being able to compete. The State Journal Register article also states that vehicles should be using the equivalent of a single gallon of gasoline to achieve the 100 mpg goal. If the competition is strictly limited to gasoline produced vehicles I think this does a disservice to the intended goal. While usage reduction is a great goal. Eliminating the use of the non ecofriendly fuel would be a better goal. This is something that could in fact be achieved with the right resources in place.
I firmly believe that technology isn’t holding the world back in regards to driving greener. There are many other factors that have gotten in the way of improving the way we drive. At this time there is really no incentive for auto manufacturers to step up to the plate and start offering fuel efficient vehicles. To many consumers are of the mindset that they will have to give up what they want to drive a car or truck that is better for the environment. For the time being these people are right in their thought process. All most every commercially available ecofriendly vehicle requires some give and take at this point. For electrics charge times have gotten better but still are far from what consumers want. Although everyone always comes up with the figures in regards to electrics meeting the average daily travel needs of almost everyone. This never takes into account that at the moment these vehicles won’t even provide a short day trip distance without a recharge. Most consumers aren’t willing to make that type of sacrifice. Example – if I had the money I could purchase a Tesla in Chicago and not be able to fully make it home to Chatham in the middle of Illinois on one charge.
With alternative fuel vehicles you may be breaking the law in the United States depending on what you’re using. Availability of your chosen biofuel may be limited. However in almost all cases your range isn’t limited as long as you have a fuel source. Consumers don’t want to do what you have seen presenters on ecofriendly car shows do. These people don’t want to go hunt for fuel sources. Until a manufacturer can make an idiot proof vehicle that doesn’t hassle the consumer we aren’t going to see any movement towards change in regards to what you’re seeing driving down the road.
Then again your not seeing many people pushing for change. You see many people doing what they have done for years. Give lip service to the subject. Even the people who are all for the change are guilty of this. There have been to many announced projects that have never come to light for various reasons. We have seen this coming from the traditional auto makers for years now as well. The promise of the future being just a few years away. Yet when that day comes there is some excuse as to why the promise wasn’t fulfilled. With only a limited amount of the driving population upset about it the car companies can keep getting away with this.
The article is a simplification of the AXP goals. Any alternative fuel including solar can compete for the equivalent 100 MPG. Also, plug-in electric vehicles don’t meet the requirements because they have too large a carbon footprint (if your house is powered by a coal plant you’re creating pollution to charge the car) and cannot go at high speeds for 100 miles without needing a recharge.
Essentially what AXP wants is a 4 seater with 4 wheels and trunk space that can meet or exceed the equivalent of 100 MPG for 100 miles. I’m not sure of anything on the market right now that meets that requirement, though I hear Toyota is talking about creating a 100 MPG Prius hybrid (separately from the AXP competition).
Well, there is infact a 100mpg car that you can buy in England. Made by Axon, based in Northamptonshire, it is made from recycled carbon fibre. It even has seat cloth made from jeans and such like. It is a two seater, with a large boot (trunk) and does 100mpg! You can see it in a video on BBC’s news website. Here is the link. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7414885.stm
Unless you have some insider information. All the data I have come across has stated that the vehicle you made mention of won’t be going into production until 2010. Which for some reason seems to be the same year many other companies are claiming they will have more fuel efficient – eco-friendly models coming off the assembling line. With that said thanks for the BBC video link. It was worth watching.