Automotive X Prize teams from New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Indiana will compete at the 7th Annual Green Grand Prix Friday, April 15, at Watkins Glen International. Two of the vehicles are educational entries from Cornell University and West Philadelphia High School.
The X Prize cars will be entered in one of two fuel economy rallies that will be run on the WGI’s 2.45-mile (1.52-mile) short course.
The morning rallies are part of a daylong schedule of events, which includes competition among Electrathon teams from high school in several states.
The 15 April event kicks off Watkins Glen International’s opening weekend activities on 16 and 17 April. Admission to the Green Grand Prix is free, and the gates will open at 8 a.m. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The entries participating in the Green Grand Prix were among an original field of 111 competing teams, representing 136 vehicle entries from around the world.
The X Prize cars will be in the line-ups of the fuel economy time-speed-distance rallies. The morning rallies, listing 10 classes of cars, will be organized and sponsored by the Glen Region of the Sports Car Club of America.
Entries will include diesel and traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, hybrid models, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell cars and vehicles running on biodiesel, flex-fuel and pure electric. Additionally, organizers expect vehicles powered by vegetable oil, LP and compressed natural gas. Colleges and high schools with automobile technology programs are encouraged to bring their project cars.
The rallies are open to any vehicle, and registrations will be taken online through April 10 at the Green Grand Prix website. The entry fees for the rallies are $75 for a private entry and $150 for a business entry. No walk-in registrations will be taken.
The afternoon Electrathon races feature single-person, lightweight, aerodynamic, high-efficiency electric vehicles. They have three or four wheels and are powered by gel cell battery packs not exceeding 67 pounds. They usually weigh between 100 and 150 pounds.
They may be built from a kit or from scratch. They must have brakes, and drivers must use a five-point racing harness.
All Green Grand Prix activities are designed to bring together a diverse mix of vehicles and their owners, businesses promoting renewable energy and related products, environmental groups, students and faculty members from elementary to university level and the general public.