Automotive X Prize News: May 18th, 2008

Tata Motors stories: Edmunds ("shaping up to be an exciting and possibly world-transforming contest"), Popular Mechanics ("the rest of the contestants now feeling the heat"), Autoblog Green ("excellent news"), CNBC ("that's not to say GM, Toyota or Mercedes couldn't do it as well if they put their minds to it"). I wonder if Tata competing directly will impact the support they are giving to MDI / the compressed air vehicle? Tata Motors Limited has still not issued their own press release.

Cornell AXP Team Hack Metro Geo Chassis for 100 MPG Hybrid. The conversion adds about 770 pounds, of which 570 is batteries.

Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference and Expo (AFVI): Miles EV, GEM and Phoenix share EV product line-ups. Apparently Jeff Boyd (no relation), COO of Miles EV, drives an XS500 to work. Learn more about the 2008 AFVI.

Tesla Motors Blog: Program Update, with lots of juicy details including delivery dates for various VIN numbers. Tesla Saga Continues: When is production car #2 not? Apparently even though Martin Eberhard was supposed to get "production car #2", he is instead getting "VIN #2", the difference being that several later numbered VINs are actually going to be in customers hands first. This could be just bad luck, but more likely it's another snub from Elon Musk. Triple Pundit Takes Tesla for a Spin. Fisker asking court for arbitration in Tesla lawsuit.

Project Better Place: Renault's electric car debuts in Tel Aviv. A silver, normal looking sedan with silent electric drive and good acceleration. Some might come to America. SF Mayor Gavin Newsom visited Israel to see PBP.

GM-Volt.com Survey Results, showing among other things that 98% of the readership is male! It's also dominated by IT and engineering people. Volt mules are meeting EV-only target range. GM exploring supercap li-ion combo for next generation EREV.

Challenge X Survey Discovers Fuel Efficiency is Fashion Forward. Specifically, 88% of women said they would rather chat up someone with the latest fuel-efficient car versus the latest sports car :-)

Test Drive: Saturn Aura + HCCI.

Prius sales top 1 million.

Triac to arrive this July, reservations being accepted, and other juicy details.