ITHACA, N.Y. — It’s been an exciting past few weeks for the Cornell Automotive X Prize Team. Not only have we gotten a few new team members and a new office, but we’ve chosen the type of alt-energy car we’ll be trying to take 100 miles—and beyond—on a single gallon of fuel. After a summer’s worth of detailed analyses to figure out which component technologies will help us meet the contest’s requirements, we’ve settled on the most efficient platform to embrace: the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

With Toyota testing plug-in capability in its popular Prius model and GM unveiling its highly-anticipated Chevrolet Volt, PHEV technology has really caught the attention of the industry. All our simulations on engines, chassis and drivetrains indicate that we shouldn’t let it stop there. So our design team—made up of students across all class years and studying everything from engineering to human ecology—has been hard at work developing a library of concept sketches, CAD models and testable renderings of Cornell AXP’s car.

A lot more went into our decision than hype. Detailed competitor profiles in our simulations showed us that the “alternative” portion of the contest—free from constraints such as the two-door, four-passenger configuration required in the mainstream category—will favor entrants with a research base in abstract design and fabrication. Experimental auto companies such as Aptera have a history of conducting research into applications of nontraditional car design; so they may have more intellectual capital. But any innovations developed with the alternative approach, our technical industry reports found, would also likely be more difficult to implement in the consumer market. Cornell AXP’s stance is to provide the maximum benefit of any systems or technology developed to the public when the competition concludes, so we’re focusing on the mainstream vehicle category.

Stay tuned as all of our subteams—electrical components, mechanical components, chassis, information management, business administration and business plan—gear up for an even busier time ahead, armed with an outline of near- and long-term goals. The ultimate goal, of course, is to win! —James Sherman, Design Team Leader

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