Monthly Archives: May 2010

PIAXP Announces Successful Teams after Shakedown

Today, the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a $10 million competition to inspire a new generation of viable super-efficient vehicles capable of achieving 100 MPGe (miles per gallon or its energy equivalent), announced 22 teams representing 27 vehicles survived Shakedown … Continue reading

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Back in Switzerland & some afterthoughts

We all got back on LX09 Swiss from ORD to ZRH yesterday afternoon, and needed a good night’s sleep…the week at MIS was pretty tough, even without having to fix anything major on the two E-Tracers.  I can only imagine … Continue reading

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Both E-Tracers Qualified for X-Prize Knockout Stage

Both E-Tracers passed the acceleration and brake tests as well as the Consumer’s Union double lane change avoidance maneuver “Elchtest” without problems. Yesterday’s highlight was the Durability Test.  Both E-Tracers made their 20 laps on a closed circuit with bumps, potholes and dirt … Continue reading

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The Second ET #7009 Completes All Dynamic Tests

…with no drama at all.  E-Tracer #7009 (or rather #79) did all the acceleration, emergency braking and the consumer union’s double lane change today and I have to bow my hat to Felix, he did all of the driving brilliantly. … Continue reading

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The 2nd ET Completed Tech Inspection Successfully

The second E-Tracer #7009 completed the technical inspection successfully today and will go through road testing tomorrow. We had some tense moments with the AC-Propulsion’s ground fault indication not reacting to the standard test routine. But the fabulous PIAXP tech team … Continue reading

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Tech Inspections Passed

X-Prize Team E-Tracer: tech inpections passed, emergency double lane change manoeuvre passed at 48 mph, brake test passed at 150 ft from 60 mph, acceleration 0-60 mph passed at 6.5 sec (not with full throttle…;-)  These results are for vehicle # … Continue reading

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First Day Technical Inspections

After a nice and calm trip through parts of Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, we arrived last night at the Super 8 Hotel near the track. We had some beers and good steaks nearby and went to bed early. Today, we … Continue reading

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Rigging up the Supertrailer

Lufthansa Cargo handed out the two ET’s on Saturday morning after we had final clearance from the Customs and so in a couple of hours we’re going to hit the road with Jim Lorimer’s terrific 24′ trailer, all shiny and … Continue reading

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