By US Department of Energy
Monday, November 2, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC – Energy Secretary Steven
Chu today announced that the Department of Energy is providing up
to $5.5 million in funding from the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act to support the X PRIZE Foundation's work to
inspire a new generation of energy efficient vehicles. As
part of the Automotive X PRIZE competition, teams design
innovative, commercially-viable, high-efficiency vehicles that will
help break our dependence on oil and stem the effects of climate
change. The funding announced today, which builds on a
partnership with the X PRIZE Foundation that began in 2008, will
provide technical assistance and expand national education and
outreach efforts for the competition. The award also supports
President Obama's Strategy for American Innovation, which calls on
federal agencies to increase their use of prizes as a tool for
promoting technological advances.
"Our clean energy future depends on our ability to design and
commercialize new highly-efficient vehicles that are cost-effective
for consumers and use significantly less energy," said Secretary
Chu. "This funding will support cutting-edge, American
innovation that can help us fundamentally transform personal
transportation and address the global climate crisis."
The Department of Energy will provide technical expertise to
ensure that each of the competition designs is reviewed correctly
and consistently. Funding will also support expanded outreach
and education efforts that will focus on promoting public awareness
of the science and engineering behind energy efficient vehicle
designs. This year's award will build on previous work between DOE
and the X PRIZE Foundation and established a multi-tiered
educational approach to clean energy vehicle technologies,
including an online, interactive knowledge center targeted at
students.
DOE's Vehicle Technologies Program regularly works with
academia, the private sector, and non-profit organizations, such as
X PRIZE, as part of the Department's work to develop vehicle
technologies and alternative fuels that can reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, lessen our dependence on foreign oil, and help the U.S.
transportation industry remain competitive in the years
ahead.
Learn more about DOE's work on clean, alternative fuels and
advanced vehicle technologies research, development and deployment
efforts from EnergySavers' Your Vehicle
webpage.
The Automotive X Prize
is a private, independent, technology-neutral competition developed
by the X PRIZE Foundation, which creates and manages prizes that
drive innovators to solve some of the greatest challenges facing
the world.
SOURCE