Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE to Award up to $10 Million on September 16 in Washington, D.C. Ceremony

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

WHO/WHAT:

Progressive Insurance, the country's fourth largest auto insurance group, and The X PRIZE Foundation, an educational nonprofit prize organization, will announce the winners of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE at a special awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Up to $10 million will be awarded to as many as three teams that proved their entry vehicle could meet the competition's strictest requirements, including the ability to achieve 100 miles per gallon or the energy equivalent (MPGe) and to survive grueling real-world safety, efficiency, emissions, durability and range tests.

The ceremony, which is open to the public, will be hosted by Arianna Huffington, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Huffington Post; Jim Gianopulos, Chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment; Glenn Renwick, President and CEO, of Progressive Insurance; and Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet the winning and finalist teams and get an up close look at the vehicles and technologies that will shape the future of the automotive industry.

WHEN/WHERE:  Thursday, September 16

Historical Society of Washington, D.C. 801 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001

10:00am Media Check in Begins

10:30am -12:00pm Awards Ceremony/Press Conference

12:00pm-1:30pm Interviews Available w/Team Leads and Competition Spokespeople

TEAMS ON SITE:

amp electric vehicles (Blue Ash, OH)

Aptera (Vista, CA)

Edison2 LLC (Charlottesville, VA)

Illuminati Motor Works (Springfield, IL)

Li-Ion Motors (Mooresville, NC)

RaceAbout Association (Finland)

Spira (Thailand)

Tango/Commuter Cars (Spokane, WA)

TW4XP (Germany)

West Philly EVX Team (Philadelphia, PA)

Western Washington University (Bellingham, WA)

X-Tracer (Winturther, Switzerland/Richmond, VA)

ZAP (Santa Rosa, CA)

PRESS CREDENTIALS:

Credentials are required for all qualified journalists who wish to attend the ceremony. Request them at www.progressiveautoxprize.org/credentials.  

INTERVIEWS:

Please submit requests for interviews with Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE teams, officials, and sponsors to [email protected].

ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE

The goal of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles that offer more consumer choices. Ten million dollars in prizes will be awarded to the teams that win a stage competition for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 Miles per gallon or energy equivalent (MPGe). The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE places a major focus on efficiency, safety, affordability, and the environment. It is about developing real, production-capable cars that consumers will want to buy, not science projects or concept cars. This progress is needed because today's oil consumption is unsustainable and because automotive emissions significantly contribute to global warming and climate change. The ten million dollar purse and partial funding for prize operations was provided by Progressive Insurance. Additional major funding for education, outreach, and technical operations was provided by $9 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy. Additional funding for prize operations was provided by Cisco and private donors. For more information about the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, please visit www.progressiveautoxprize.org or email [email protected].

SOURCE Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE