WWU to compete in third and final efficiency event at 10 a.m. today in X Prize competition
Western Washington University is the only university left in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize competition, part of which is taking place this week in Detroit. The team from Cornell University, which had been the only other university entry, dropped out on Mondy after experiencing technical difficulties.
There is one high school team remaining, from West Philadelphia High School in Pennsylvania. The West Philly team has two vehicles in the contest. In all, 25 other vehicles remain in the competition, 11 of which are in the alternative side-by-side class with WWU. Seven vehicles have been eliminated from competition since the start of the shakedown stage, according to the standings posted on the X Prize website.
The team from WWU completed two of the three efficiency events, the city and urban tests, on Monday, and will hit the track at 10 a.m. today for the highway efficiency test. That event requires that WWU's Viking 45 complete 90 miles on the track, or 45 laps, at an average speed of 45 miles per hour with one stop every 10 miles. In order to advance in the competition, the vehicle will have to achieve the equivalent of at least 67 miles per gallon and emit less than or equal to the equivalent 300 grams per mile of carbon dioxide. The data are calculated using the combined numbers from the city, urban and highway tests.
After the efficiency tests are completed, a few more tests remain for WWU during the knockout stage of competition. Range, emissions and dynamic safety tests will be completed June 25 to June 30. Should the WWU team advance out of the knockout stage, the finals stage will take place July 19 to 30 in Detroit. Ten to 20 vehicles are expected to advance to the finals.
In addition to following the car's performance live online, try these other ways of keeping in touch with the Viking 45's progress through the X Prize competition:
Twitter:
- Follow the WWU X Prize team: @WWUXPRIZETEAM.
- Follow the Progressive Automotive X Prize: @progautoxp.
- Conduct a search for hashtag #PIAXP.
- Updates specific to WWU also will be posted on the @wwunews and @WesternToday Twitter feeds.
Facebook:
Blogs:
More:
- Check back here at Western Today for any updates as they come available.