This Edison2 team was driven right against the breaking point when getting the cars ready. It was the most impressive effort I have ever been part of. There were stressed moments but we never dropped the ball. The cars were in Michigan at the prescribed time by a margin of 90 minutes, following a relentless effort in the Lynchburg shop.
We are in the second day of the X Prize Shakedown stage; half of 28 teams remaining in the competition are with us at the Michigan International Speedway this week, the other half come next week. Yesterday and today was spent with our 4 cars undergoing technical inspections (yes, 4 cars; other teams have one or two; we are entered in all 3 classes, with 2 vehicles in the mainstream class).
Our cars made it through tech on all the important safety issues. More evaluations for the rest of the week, with time on the track. Getting 100 mpg is difficult and will become clear as in my opinion only a few teams have a realistic chance of success. The lesson of pure efficiency - the message of low mass and good aerodynamics - will sound loud and clear.
There are an impressive array of specific solutions here: some very nice electric car installations and some very heroic combinations of different approaches. However, the hurdles are set high and only the very careful and very well executed solution will stand the test of this X Prize.
There is a reason why the big automobile manufacturers have not done it. It is really hard to do…
Oliver