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Consumer Reports teams up with the Automotive X Prize for MPGe, safety tests

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:08:00 +0000

The Automotive X Prize will get help with the safety and education portions of its competition from Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports will be the competition’s “Official Active Safety Testing Partner.” We spoke with the Auto X Prize’s senior director , Cristin Lindsay, during the Detroit Auto Show, and she said that safety is paramount, both for the drivers and people who come out to watch. Having a trusted name like Consumer Reports helping to conduct pre-race safety inspections and active safety performance tests should convince outsiders that these sometimes unusual body shapes are indeed fit for use. Another bit of news is that Consumer Reports will use MPGe (miles per gallon energy equivalent) when it tests plug-in and alternative fuel vehicles in the future. The press release does not explicitly say Consumer Reports will use the X Prize’s criteria, but the X Prize’s Carrie Fox told us that, “The plan, and it’s still a plan, is for them to use the MPGe standard we’ve come up with.” You can Car Blog Greenan excerpt from the current official rules describing the MPGe calculations after the jump or Car Blog Greenthe whole ruleset in PDF . [Source: Auto X Prize ] Continue reading Consumer Reports teams up with the Automotive X Prize for MPGe, safety tests Auto Blog: MPG , Automotive X-Prize Consumer Reports teams up with the Automotive X Prize for MPGe, safety tests originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Consumer Reports teams up with the Automotive X Prize for MPGe, safety tests

Detroit 2009: Automotive X Prize status report

admin — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:41:00 +0000

Auto Blog: Etc. , AutoblogGreen Exclusive , Detroit Auto Show , Automotive X-Prize It wasn’t all flashy new cars during the media days at the Detroit Auto Show last week. During our time in Cobo Hall, we sat down with Cristin Lindsay, senior director of the Progressive Auto X Prize, to talk about where the AXP is right now. For those keeping track, we are about half-way between the official kick-off at the New York Auto Show last year and the expected start of the stage races this fall . We know that the AXP is looking for more formal participation from the major automakers , but what about the faltering economy, the safety of entry vehicles and the timeline moving forward? Lindsay talked about all these things, but needed to step into the vagueness a bit when answering the question on what happens when. I asked how the economic downturn is affecting the participating teams and the timeline for the rest of the AXP events. “That’s a great question,” she said, “and I think you’re going to hear more from us about that in the coming months. There’s no question that for our teams it is a challenging time to be raising money for building cars and we want to make sure we’re listening to those concerns and making sure that our timeline is the best one. So, keep your ears out; we’ll continue talking about how our events are going to come together, where they are going to take place, what the frequency is and you’ll be hearing much more on that soon.” My guess: the dates for those stage races will be pushed back a bit. Listen to our talk below (10 min, 14 MB) and you’ll find much more after the jump. Gallery: Automotive X-Prize entrants Continue reading Detroit 2009: Automotive X Prize status report Detroit 2009: Automotive X Prize status report originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green

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Detroit 2009: Automotive X Prize status report

Detroit 2009: Myers Motors officially enters the Auto X Prize

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:45:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , AutoblogGreen Exclusive , Detroit Auto Show , Automotive X-Prize AXP’s senior director Cristin Lindsay and Dana Myers Way back in 2006, we took an in-depth look at the NMG , a quirky electric vehicle from Myers Motors that seats one and is based on the Corbin Sparrow. Myers Motors is still alive and kicking and selling NMG vehicles (but that Qui Moto didn’t exactly come to fruition). We found Dana Myers, CEO of MyersMotors, at the Detroit Auto Show just as he was about to officially hand over his check to enter the Automotive X-Prize . We got a chance to ask what’s up with the electric car company these days and, most excitedly, get a few scant details about the advertised NMG 2 , a two-person version of the NMG that’s scheduled for later this year. Myers wouldn’t say too much, but we did get him to spill a few beans. He told us that, while his company has been planing to make a two-seater for a while now (see also: the Qui Moto , again), they wanted to wait until they had the powertrain and the lithium-ion battery technology nailed down in the standard NMG before porting it over into the NMG 2. The new car will have side-by-side seating and will keep the NMG’s three wheel configuration in order to remain in the motorcycle class. Mabe we’ll get that Qui Moto – or a three-wheeled version of it, after all. So, how hard is it to make an electric car? Myers said that in the really early versions of the NMG, you would roll the windows down and the car would shut down. Building his own EVs has taught Dana a few things, and he does understand why the OEMs are so hesitant and cautious when they make pronouncements about actual release dates and prices. “I’d be surprised if the [Chevy] Volt comes in at 40 grand, but it’s good if it does,” he said. Listen to the whole interview below (6 minutes, 8MB) Gallery: Detroit 2009: Myers Motors Detroit 2009: Myers Motors officially enters the Auto X Prize originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green

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Detroit 2009: Myers Motors officially enters the Auto X Prize