Random Thoughts of Chris Tilley

The people that offered up prize money for reusable private spacecraft are planning a new contest. The rules for the Automotive X PRIZE are still being developed but they do offer up a general view on their website.

They state the primary goal as "To inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles that help break our addiction to oil and stem the effects of climate change". Amongst the other guidelines is that these have to be production not concept cars. That is to say that we will actually be able to buy these cars. The contest will be technology neutral. So super efficient gas, hybrids, electric, hydrogen and anything else are all welcome and can compete on a level playing field. The main points they are going to be measuring are: fuel-efficiency, emissions, safety, manufacturability, performance, capacity. Those six criteria are going to involve a lot of trade offs.

I look forward to seeing the complete rules when they are released. Again this is the sort of financial encouragement that drives competition. I fully expect that this contest will change the world.