Desert Fuel is currently seeking sponsors as the team has embarked on the development of a cutting edge prototype vehicle for the Automotive X PRIZE competition. Following is a statement from Automotive X PRIZE (AXP) regarding the competition:

Teams will compete for multi-million-dollar cash prizes by designing and building super-efficient vehicles. 

• The AXP competition is all about building practical and clean cars that will achieve 100 MPG or its equivalent.
• We don’t know what technology will power winning car designs. All we care about is results – the creation of real, clean and super-efficient vehicles that people want to buy. 
• Winners will come in two different categories – Mainstream and Alternative 
• Our gauge of success will be a new benchmark, called MPGe, for Miles per Gallon Equivalent that will take into account energy equivalence no matter what the source. 
• Extremely low emissions will also be required in order to stem the effects cars are having on climate change.
• The AXP, through rigorous selection criteria, will qualify vehicles that are marketable and pass intensive evaluations. Following that, a compelling road race will further test the vehicles to determine winners.
  

Desert Fuel’s vehicle will be a hybrid of biodiesel and electric power. The vehicle will utilize LED lighting both internally and externally, including head lights, tail lights, back lighting, and various displays. Since the main drive motor will be electric, the vehicle will have the ability to plug into standard AC wall outlets, tapping into worldwide power grids. The main drive train will consist of direct drive three phase AC electric motors capable of approximately 400 foot pounds of torque. Solar energy will be used to recharge the vehicle for short commutes, reducing the strain on the power grid and increasing the fuel economy of the vehicle. A four cylinder biodiesel generator will provide the electric power for long distance driving. Since fuel economy is of the utmost importance, the vehicle will recapture lost energy through regenerative braking, exhaust fed reluctance generators, and steam power energy recapture. Ready to use power will be provided to passengers via four built in charging units; two for small devices, and two for large (over 70 watt) devices utilizing iTip technology from Mobility Electronics, Inc.

Desert Fuel would like to invite sponsors to participate in a cutting edge development platform.  Sponsorship can include monetary donations or product donations.  Sponsors logos will be featured on the prototype vehicle and on the Desert Fuel website (www.desertfuel.org). The AXP competition has also stated that “all teams will receive significant public exposure and promotion to potential partners, sponsors, investors, manufacturers, distributors and customers.”

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Desert Fuel, please provide details in the Sponsor Information below: