Clean Green Cars: Detroit 2010: Automotive X-Prize now pretty much the Michigan (based) X-Prize

Detroit 2010: Automotive X-Prize now pretty much the Michigan (based) X-Prize

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Automotive X-Prize, Racing

The Progressive Automotive X-Prize has lost a lot of potential and participating teams over the course of the past few years, and today it lost a dozen cities. See, in early 2008, the AXP asked for bids to host trial events around the U.S. and at least 14 said they were interested. Yesterday, Peter Diamandis, the chairman and CEO of the X Prize Foundation, announced that nearly all of the actual on-the-road events will be held in Michigan. Make that the on-the-track events.

Yes, the actual competition for the AXP will take place almost exclusively in Michigan, with the Michigan International Speedway hosting the Shakedown and Knockout races starting in April (see a full schedule and more information after the jump). Once the field is whittled down to the top teams, final vehicle testing will be done at the EPA Labs in Ann Arbor, MI and Argonne National Labs in Chicago, IL. These tests will verify the on-track emission and performance figures and then the final awards ceremony will be held in Washington, D.C. this coming September.

There are 51 vehicles from 41 teams left in the contest, and a handful were on hand in Detroit. You can see them in the gallery below and click past the jump for much, much more, including an interview with the AXP’s Eric Cahill.

Gallery: Detroit 2010: Edison2’s Very Light Car