The upcoming Automotive X Prize and the Maine Team

Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 44 Location: Camden, Maine, USA

The Maine team is called "Maine Automotive X" and we have meet in full session 4 times, and in sub-groups 3 other times. Here's what has happened so far:

We have incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the State of Maine. This is quick, easy, cheap ($40), can be done without a lawyer, and can easily be changed to for-profit status later if necessary.

The Body Design Subgroup has been working with drawings and settled tentatively on a four-wheel, tandem-seated very beautiful design.

We felt that since the three-wheel configuration definitely requires a motorcycle endorsement on one's driver's license; is quite sensitive to the center-of-gravity shift with varying passenger loads; and represents another, perhaps unnecessary, marketing gamble; that we would go with two, very light, closer-spaced, undriven rear wheels.

Tandem seating is another marketing gamble, but since our basic idea is to see what light weight and aerodynamics can accomplish, the tandem seating advantage was just too important to ignore. We may change our minds later.

The Component Search Sub-group is centering in on an available, inexpensive, state-of-the-art engine, transmission, front-wheel-drive unit. This narrowing of possibilities comes from two factors:

The group has talked me out of a lithium BEV, my first love in drivetrains. It became clear that lithium batteries are 'unobtainium' as one forum member has coined the phrase. This follows from the present X-prize time frame, as well as our wish that the vehicle should cost near $10K in production.

And secondly, you need to consider our mission statement:

Our purpose is to design and build a prototype within the constraints and time-frame of the Automotive X Prize, in order to win that prize. Except for the body itself, we will use only proven, existing, available components.

This mission cuts out everything unproven. There are lots of exciting ideas out there. We have neither the time nor the money (nor in my case the inclination) for the tedious cut-and-try process of finding something revolutionary which works.

So at our next meeting, we will debate a number of gas or diesel complete drivetrain choices, and come closer to choosing one. Some will be from "Kei" cars, which are about the power and physical size we think we need.

But our main thrust over these next weeks will be fundraising, the central make-or-break issue at this time, as we near the purchase of components.

So that's our status as of July 8. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ANYONE'S IDEAS ABOUT OUR THINKING SO FAR! We certainly don't want to go up any blind alleys.

There are members of our group who feel cautious about leaving the three-wheel configuration or about choosing tandem seating. We are also cautious about the weight of our drivetrain choice, since we hope the vehicle will eventually weigh only 800-1000 lbs.

I put this information out there from a deep committment to an 'open source'. That's the way I personally hope this event will proceed. "Should I be secretive?", this blabbermouth once asked our group. They said: " At least you can be open until we have something to be secretive about!"

I, myself, go through love-hate phases: At times I wish I'd never heard of the AXP. I'm 66, I say. I should be hiking in France. But at other times I thank the stars for this inspiration: Something happened in California which has this hodge-podge of people in a backwater 3000 miles away working together, inspiring each other.

Someone else on the forum said that this is a gift we can give to our grandchildren. Our effort here counterbalances the poor legacy we might leave them otherwise....