X Prize Competition Tests

There are five (5) mandatory events for the Finals Stage. They are:

1. Technical Inspection – all vehicles must pass Technical Inspection before they are allowed to participate in the Dynamic Safety or other Competition Events. The objectives for the Technical Inspections are twofold. The first is to work with Teams to establish that their vehicles are as safe as possible for the speeds and demands placed on them by the Dynamic Safety testing and subsequent events. Second, the Inspectors will be checking for consistency of Teams’vehicles to their design submissions and general safety for all competitors.

2. On-Road Fuel Economy/Efficiency – held on the 2 mile oval. The design of this event mimics the type of efficiency testing that occurs in industry/government testing. It consists of a combination of city, urban, and highway testing. Vehicles must achieve at least 100 MPGe and less than or equal to 200g/mile CO2 to continue in the Finals Stage. The urban portion of the test is 16 miles (8 laps) at an average speed of approximately 22 MPH with three (3) stops per mile or six (6) stops per lap. Following the urban cycle, vehicles will be given a three (3) hour period to recharge but no refueling will be allowed. Vehicles will then be driven on a city drive cycle of 30 miles (15 laps) with two (2) stops per mile or four (4) stops per lap at a average speed of approximately 29 MPH. Following this city drive cycle, vehicles will be given an overnight charging period but again no refueling will be allowed. The highway portion of the test is 90 miles (45 laps) at an average speed of 45 MPH with one (1) stop every 10 miles (5 laps). A total of 136 miles will constitute the Efficiency Event. Refueling and recharging will be performed after the completion of the highway drive cycle and MPGe will be determined directly from the total energy used over the total distance traveled.

3. On-Road Range – held on the 2 mile oval. Vehicles must achieve a range of at least 100 miles (50 laps) for the Alternative Class or a range of at least 200 miles (100 laps) for the Mainstream Class. All vehicles must begin the Range Event with a completely full competition fuel tank and a full state of charge. The range measurement must be completed without refueling, recharging or use of any external energy sources except those specifically allowed in the Competition regulations. All vehicles must maintain an average lap speed of 55 MPH with no refueling or recharging. All vehicles must stop every 10 miles (5 laps).

4. Dynamic Safety – this event is made up of four parts:

a. The first part has two elements, an Acceleration (0 to 60 MPH) Test and a Braking (60 to 0 MPH) Test. The test consists of acceleration from rest to 60 MPH. Upon reaching 60 MPH the driver will continue to hold 60 MPH until s/he reaches the braking test area whereupon the driver applies the brakes. The requirement for successfully completing this event is 0 – 60 MPH in 15 seconds or less for the Mainstream Class and 18 seconds or less for the Alternative Class vehicles. Required braking distance is 170 feet or less for both Classes.

b. The second part of this event is an Accident Avoidance Test (double lane change). Generally, the driver will enter the test area under the command of the test team and drive the event at the prescribed speed. Upon completion of the pass through the test area, the driver returns back to the starting area and will continue to run the test under the direction of the test team at increasing speeds until successfully passing at 45 MPH, without hitting any cones.

c. The third part is a Highway Acceleration (40 – 65 MPH) Test.
This consists of acceleration from rest to 40 MPH. Upon reaching 40 MPH, the driver will continue to hold 40 MPH until s/he reaches the acceleration test area whereupon s/he accelerates to 65 MPH. The requirement for successfully completing this event is 40 – 65 MPH acceleration time of 9 seconds or less for both Classes. While participation is mandatory, unsuccessful completion will not result in elimination from the Competition.

Successful completion of all events but the ‘Highway Acceleration’ Test is required for vehicles to be eligible to compete in the Finals Stage of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE.

5. Combined Performance and Efficiency – This timed event serves as the tie-breaker for those categories with multiple teams in contention and will be run on the oval. Total elapsed time to complete the required distance plus any time penalties assessed will be used to determine Grand Prize winners if multiple vehicle in a class qualify to win at the conclusion of the Validation Stage. Vehicles must achieve a minimum fuel economy of at least 100 MPGe. A maximum speed of 70 MPH and a minimum speed of 45 MPH are required. The Alternative Class with side-by-side seating is the only category with multiple vehicles in competition and therefore will be the only category required to run this event. They must complete 100 miles distance on the oval (50 laps). Vehicles may be refueled or recharged only at the completion of the test.

Only ‘Combined Performance and Efficiency’ is not an elimination event, though scores are crucial for determining placement in the Competition.