WWU's VRI completes efficiency events at X Prize competition; next up is range test Friday
The Western Washington University X Prize team has put Viking 45 through its paces so far this week, having completed the three efficiency events. On Tuesday, the crew from WWU's Vehicle Research Institute completed the highway efficiency test, driving Viking 45 for 90 miles around the track at Michigan International Speedway in Detroit. The team appears to have done well in that event, but official results are not yet available.
Next up for WWU is the range test on Friday. To clear that hurdle, WWU, which is in the alternative side-by-side class of the competition, must achieve a range of 68 miles (34 laps). After the range test come the emissions and dynamic safety tests, which take place through Wednesday, June 30.
Teams that meet the minimum requirements for the efficiency tests will move on to the finals, which take place July 19 to 30 in Detroit. Eric Leonhardt, director of WWU's VRI, said Tuesday that if Viking 45 performs as the team knows it is capable, WWU should be able to make it into the finals.
A number of other vehicles are completing the efficiency tests today and Thursday. Once all of the teams have completed each event, statistics for each team will be posted online at http://tracker.progressiveautoxprize.org/.
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.