Electric car race for £7 million

One-hundred-and-eleven teams have entered the Progressive Auto X Prize , a competition that will award $10million (£7m) to vehicles that can achieve a fuel efficiency equivalent to 100mpg.

The main $7.5-million prize is open to vehicles with four wheels that are able to carry four people a distance of 200 miles on one load of their chosen fuel.

In addition, they must be capable of accelerating from 0 to 60mph in 12 seconds and reaching a top speed of 100mph.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said; “It easy for outlandish claims to be made of concept designs, but this competition demands that the wining vehicle not only meet demanding performance tests, but be production-ready.”

Who has entered the X Prize competition?

With the exception of the Tata Nano, most of the vehicles entered in the competition are built by small, start-up enterprises.

The Aptera Typ-1 is a futuristic-looking electric car that went on sale in America at the beginning of 2009 has already taken 4,000 orders. The three-wheeled car is able to travel 100 miles on a single charge and is a serious contender for the $2.5-million X Prize for two-seater vehicles.

The Delta vehicle (pictured right) is to be powered by an electric engine weighing just 13kg and is the work of British company Delta Motorsport.

What is the X-Prize?

The X Prize Foundation is associated with space travel because in 2004 it made headlines across the world when it awarded $10 million to the first private team to build and launch a spacecraft capable of carrying three people to 100km above the earth’s surface, twice within two weeks. It is now involved in many other areas…

What is the ETA?

The ETA provides motorists and cyclists with green breakdown cover and green insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.