Automotive X-Prize announces 31 competitors for 100mpg challenge - Autoblog

In the same vein as the Space X-Prize spurred the development of a private market for space travel (admittedly in its gestational stages, the X-Prize Foundation is holding a competition with a bit more realistic goal, the development of a commercially viable 100 mile per gallon car. The Automotive X-Prize competition has garnered 31 competitors

The Automotive X-Prize is designed to get engineers thinking outside the box in terms of fuel economy. The goal is to develop a "commercially viable" vehicle that will get at least 100 mpg. How it's done is up to the individual teams, but they have to keep production in mind to be eligible. They even have to show a business plan proving that they can sell at least 10,000 units a year. The competition starts with peer reviews next year, and then the actual vehicle competitions in 2009.

Cool.